The LPGA Tour returns to the United States for the JTBC Founders Cup at the Wildfire Golf Club at the J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. The best ladies in the world have had a full week off to prepare for this week’s tournament with world No. 1 Lydia Ko looking to earn her first-career victory at this event.
Event Details
Event: JTBC Founders Cup
Category: LPGA
Date: March 17-20
Location: Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix, Arizona
Ko is coming off a disappointing T-15 at the HSBC Women’s Champions a couple of weeks ago, as Ha-Na Jang came out of nowhere to steal the show with a dominant performance. Jang finished at 19-under to finish four shots ahead of Pornanong Phatlum for the victory. It’s no surprise that she is among the favorites to win again this week along with some of the recent winners at this event. However, Ko is still the top dog on the LPGA Tour and is going to garner plenty of respect on the betting lines.
Past Five Winners
2015 – Hyo Joo Kim -21
2014 – Karrie Webb -19
2013 – Stacy Lewis -23
2012 – Yani Tseng -18
2011 – Karrie Webb -12
What To Know About The Course
Hyo Joo Kim was extremely accurate when she beat Stacy Lewis to claim her second LPGA Tour win here a year ago and there is no doubt that this year’s winner will need to be accurate off the tee. Putting average will also be important but familiarity could be one of the most overlooked factors that matters this weekend. Cristie Kerr is among those that will be playing on her home turf this week and her experience and knowledge of the course could help give her an edge in this year’s JTBC Founders Cup.
The Field
It wouldn’t matter if Ko had never played at this course before when it comes to the sports betting odds for this week’s tournament as Ko is clearly deserving to be the favorite week in and week out at this point. Ko finished tied for sixth at this tournament a year ago at 15-under, but she is listed as the favorite to win this event outright at +550 odds. Ha Na Jang is coming off an impressive victory and is listed right behind Ko at +850 odds, followed by the 2013 winner Stacy Lewis at +950. Hyo Joo Kim is the defending Founders Cup champion but is further down the list at +1900 odds, behind both Inbee Park at +1500 and Amy Yang at +1700 odds.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Lydia Ko over Ha Na Jang
Ha Na Jang has gotten off to an impressive start this season but this is her rookie year and she is bound to suffer a letdown eventually. She is coming off a pair of top-10 finishes to open her career including a win at last week’s HSBC Women’s Champions but this will be her first tournament on this side of the Pacific. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko is still looking for her first win of the 2016 season. She is coming off a T-15 at the HSBC Women’s Champions last week so look for her to bounce back with a much strong performance and post a better score than Ha Na Jang at the JTBC Founders Cup.
Top Five Prediction: Karrie Webb
Webb is the only two-time Founders Cup Champion and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she was in the mix for a third title this year as the LPGA honors its history. Webb came from six shots back to beat Lydia Ko and four others players at 18-under when she finished at 19-under here in 2014. There is no doubt that she has the skill set and experience to win the JTBC Founders Cup again this year and at the very least she should be able to finish in the top-five.
Top 10 Odds To Win JTBC Founders Cup
Lydia Ko +450
Ha Na Jang +750
Stacy Lewis +850
Inbee Park +1250
Amy Yang +1550
Sei Young Kim +1650
Hyo Joo Kim +1650
Brooke M Henderson +2250
Suzann Pettersen +2550
Shanshan Feng +2550
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