Sports
LPGA Tournament at Palos Verdes Golf Club Begins Today
Some of the world's best female golfers will compete at the Palos Verdes Golf Club as part of the 2023 DIO Implant LA Open.
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA — The $1.75 million DIO Implant LA Open begins Thursday at Palos Verdes Golf Club with a field including seven of the top 10 players on the Women's World Golf Rankings, including top-ranked Lydia Ko.
Ko tied for third with American Megan Khang in the Palos Verdes Championship played on the course last year, two strokes behind winner Marina Alex.
"I had a great year when I was here last year and I really enjoyed the golf course," Ko said. "Before coming to this course all I had heard was it was really hilly and that it was probably one of the hilliest golf courses we've ever played.
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"When I did play here, I was, `Oh, you know what? To my pleasant surprise it's not that bad.' I think it's got a good mix of holes. Some shorter ones you can take advantage of, and especially in the wind some holes do play a lot tougher."
Ko will be playing in the United States for the first time in 2023. She won the Ladies European Tour's Aramco Saudi Ladies International in February.
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This is Ko's 122nd week atop the rankings, third all-time behind Lorena Ochoa (158) and Jin Young Ko (153).
The field of 144 includes seven USC alums — Jennifer Chang, Karen Chung, Allisen Corpuz, Annie Park, Lizette Salas, Jennifer Song, Gabriella Then — six UCLA alums — Bronte Law, Alison Lee, Ryann O'Toole, Patty Tavatanakit, Mariajo Uribe and Lilia Vu — and Pepperdine alum Danielle Kang.
"It's very nostalgic," said Vu, the 2018 PING WGCA Player of the Year and first on the all-time UCLA career victory list with eight individual titles. "I played a lot of college golf here and I'm able to stay at home this week, so it's pretty nice. I was super excited when PV got put into the schedule.
"It's just peace of mind getting to know that I get to go home, back to my own bed and just the comfort of your own home."
The 25-year-old Vu became a first-time winner on the LPGA Tour in February when she won the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Nasa Hataoka is technically the defending champion, winning last year when it was at the Wilshire Country Club. The Wilshire Country Club will be the site of the JM Eagle LA Championship April 27-30.
The field will be reduced to the top 65 and ties after 36 holes. The winner will receive $262,500.
The tournament will be televised by Golf Channel from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Additional coverage will be streamed on Peacock from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
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