Major: 2023 Amundi Evian Championship

I love Jin Young's win in 2019, and she deserved it, but you can't tell the story of that year without talking about how Hyo Joo blew her lead late thanks to that plugged lie on 14 to give Ko a chance.

Who the heck is "Chiara Noja" and how did she earn the right to play with Jin Young (and Furue) the first two days?

Noja is apparently a German who plays on the LET and won an event last year on that tour. She turned pro at 15 and is just 17 now. She is based in Dubai. So my guess is that the Aramco types are pushing for her to get publicity, because, sorry, that record does not merit a playdate with the #1 player in the world. Sheesh, what they won't do to promote Europeans...

(and yeah, the Evian is an LET Major so perhaps they figure that means top LET players get to play with top LPGA players... And I'm probably cursing Jin Young and she'll now get whipped by the youngster.... but nothing that might happen should matter. You shouldn't be given gifts like this in a Major IMO).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvHDEGHybmS

It was a tough break for Hyo Joo Kim to get such a tough lie.
To be honest I wanted Jin Young to win but not that way, because Hyo Joo was playing great.

Any way now they both have one win, time to go for two
Also, Hyo still has that sixty-one in the first round to brag about when she won.

I don't know why you expect them to treat Jin Young as a number one golfer.
They are waiting for a US golfer to become number one  so they can run out before the Tournament to congratulate her.
 
At least they gave In Gee Chun a good pairing this time.

My field rating for this event is a super 84%. Up from 80% last year.
My breakdown is 85% from the LPGA Priority List and 81% from the Rolex Rankings.
The field rating loses a few points from the Priority List as there are fewer LPGA players than most of the other majors.
It gains a few Rolex Ranking points as the field includes a few L.E.T. players that are ranked in the top 100. Those players are:
Ana Pelaez Trivino #87
Chiara Noja #93
Klara Spilkova #97
It also includes non-LPGA member Jiyai Shin #24

Popular players you won't see teeing it up this week for a variety of reasons include:
Lexi Thompson
Lizette Salas
Jessica Korda
Stacy Lewis

Other Stuff:
With Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol winning the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, USA players now have won 5 tournaments (6 different winners) this year. No other country has had more than 2 victories.
Elizabeth Szokel became the 7th first time winner on the LPGA tour this year. Last year there were a record 11 first time winners.

Since the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational is a pairs championship, it was not recognized and had no affect on the Rolex Rankings.
It is recognized as an official LPGA victory for both players.

There was some very important moves in the Race to the CME Globe, as players must finish in the top 100 to keep their full playing privileges for 2024.
On the Upside - The following players now have a better chance to finish in the top 100 then they did a week ago:
Muni He who was outside the top 200 leaps up to #132
Polly Mac jumps up from 151-102
You Sang Hou moves from 146-119
The following players jumped into the top 100 this week:
Wichanee Meechai - 103 to 98
Emma Talley - 107 to 77
Kelly Tan - 165 to 75
Elizabeth Szokel wrapped up her card for next year with a huge jump 104 to 34
On the Downside - The following players dropped out of the top 100:
Wei-Ling Hsu - 96 to 101
Min Lee - 100 to 103
Annie Park - 97 to 104
Marissa Steen - 99 to 105





 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvKFRN_LqBC

This is probably more than you will see them in the first round

HJK and her super silky swing wilted in the wind at Pebble.