The LPGA major season will tee off from the Mission Hills Country Club in California this week as the best on the ladies’ side compete in the biggest event of the year so far. The LPGA’s most iconic major championship will feature 110 of the world’s best golfers and All Nippon Airways has increased the total purse for this event to $2.6 million in prize money so there will certainly be plenty of incentive on the big stage this week. Lydia Ko will be favored for this event, which is no surprise. She’s the favorite whenever she participates. However, she’ll attract a little more attention than usual this week as the New Zealander is coming off her first win of the season. It surprised a few people that it took her so long to get her first win, but maybe she’ll stay hot and start stringing together some victories.
Event Details
Event: ANA Inspiration
Category: LPGA
Date: March 31-April 3
Location: Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California
Brittany Lincicome returns as the defending tournament champion after making an eagle putt on 18 to force a playoff with Stacy Lewis en route to a victory. It took three more trips down the 18th fairway before Lincicome secured his second major championship and sixth career LPGA Tour victory with three strait pars on the extra holes to pull out the win.
Past Five Winners
2015: Brittany Lincicome -9 (Playoff)
2014: Lexi Thompson -14
2013: Inbee Park -15
2012: Sun Young Yoo -9
2011: Stacy Lewis -13
What To Know About The Course
This tournament is all about putting as the short game will likely determine who comes out on top at this year’s event. The course measures out at 6,769 yards and Accuracy will be more important than Driving Distance off the tee. Lincicome was steady but unspectacular down the stretch in last year’s playoffs and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it took a better score than the -9 she posted a year ago to pull out the victory this time around.
The Field
Lincicome and Lewis have each won this tournament in the last five years with the latter settling for a runner-up finish when she lost in a playoff in 2015. Lewis is among the tournament favorites for this week at +1100 odds while Lincicome is listed as a +60000 long shot to repeat as the defending champion this week. World No. 1 Lydia Ko is listed as the outright betting favorite at +450 odds with 2013 ANA Inspiration winner Inbee Park right behind her at +900 odds. The top 15 ranked golfers on the LPGA Tour will compete this week so the competition will be fierce.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Stacy Lewis over Sei Young Kim
Sei Young Kim is off to an outstanding start to the 2016 season but this week’s tournament will be a much different animal with the pressure ramped up again. Lewis has thrived at this tournament in recent years and she has already registered three top-10 finishes including tying for fourth at the JTBC Founders Cup two weeks ago. Lewis should be in fine form again as she looks for redemption after losing her in a playoff to Lincicome in 2015 and her experience and savvy will be key as she outperforms Kim in a great matchup to bet on.
Top Five Prediction: Inbee Park
Park won this event in 2013 and finish tied for 11th here a year ago but there is reason to buy in to the idea that she will bounce back with a top-five finish in 2016. She struggled out of the gate so far in 2016 but she is coming off her best performance of the year when she finished second at the Kia Classic and should be confident heading in to this week’s tournament. Park is an amazing putter so there is every reason to expect her to excel at this year’s ANA Inspiration.
Top 10 Odds To Win ANA Inspiration Tournament
Lydia Ko +405
In Bee Park +1015
Stacy Lewis +1015
Sei Young Kim +1150
Lexi Thompson +1250
Ha Na Jang +1250
Hyo Joo Kim +1650
Sung Hyun Park +1850
Brooke M Henderson +2050
In Gee Chun +2550
