With its Asian swing complete, the LPGA Tour will shift to Mexico City and the Club de Golf Mexico for the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week. One year ago, Inbee Park saved her best round of the year for Sunday and delivered an eight-under-par 64 to win this event and secure her 17th LPGA Tour title and fifth victory of the season. Park is not expected to compete in this year’s event, which means there will be a new champion crowned and delivered the first prize of $200K. With a number of big-name players not in the field for this event – players like Lydia Ko – that has left Anna Nordqvist as the favorite for this tournament.
Event
Event Details: Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational
Category: LPGA
Date: November 10-13
Location: Club de Golf Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
There were certainly plenty of surprises throughout the final swing of the LPGA Tour’s venture throughout Asia with the struggles of the top two players in the world standing out the most. Neither Lydia Ko nor Ariya Jutanugarn will compete in this week’s event in Mexico and with Shanshan Feng taking the week off as well this event suddenly appears to be that much more wide open.
Past Five Winners
2015: Inbee Park -18
2014: Christina Kim -15
2013: Lexi Thompson -16
2012: Cristie Kerr -16
2011: Catriona Matthew -12
What To Know About The Course
The par-72, 6,804-yard course will not require outstanding Driving Distance or Driving Accuracy numbers but will require a level of consistency when it comes to Greens In Regulation as well as Putting statistics. Each of the last four winners have finished with scores of 15-under or better so despite the relatively week field this course could present another opportunity for an absolute birdie-fest. Park’s dominance in the final round last year saw her produce a 64 here and while it will be hard for anybody to reach that benchmark this year consistency will be the key from start to finish on a relatively straightforward course.
The Field
With Ko, Jutanugarn and Feng all sitting this one out the role of sports betting favorites to win this event outright falls on the Canadian Brooke Henderson and Anna Nordqvist, who are both listed at +500 odds. Henderson and Nordqvist appear to be a class above the rest of the competition but Carlota Ciganda, In-Kyung Kim and others will likely have something to say about that. The lack of former winners in this year’s field adds to the feeling that anything can happen and anybody can win this weekend.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Carlota Ciganda over Anna Nordqvist
Nordqvist is coming off a top-five finish at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia but consistency hasn’t been her strong suit this season and last week’s finish was her lone top-10 finish in her last four starts. That should make it reasonable to expect some regression this week and that could open the door for Ciganda to make her move. Ciganda has heated up with four straight top-10 finishes and has all of the tools to win this event outright. The value is there when it comes to betting her to beat out Nordqvist in the head-to-head matchup so it makes sense to take a chance on her at the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week.
Top-Five Pick: Brooke Henderson
While the value isn’t incredible it makes sense to stick with a safer pick at this week’s event with Henderson back in North America with a chance to get back on track. Henderson showed flashes on the Asian swing including top-five finishes at the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship and Blue Bay LPGA but she also missed hard at the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship and the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. A couple of weeks off to rest and refocus should do her wonders heading in to this tournament where she will deliver on her status as the sports betting favorite to win the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational outright.
Top 10 Odds To Win The Lorena Ochoa Invitational
Anna Nordqvist +505
Brooke N Henderson +550
Carlota Ciganda +705
In Kyung Kim +805
Mi Jung Hur +1215
Pornanong Phatlum +1415
Caroline Masson +1815
Chella Choi +2050
Candie Kung +2250
Karine Icher +2550
Jodi Ewart Shadoff +3050
