Australia will have its strongest representation in tournament history with nine Aussies to tee it up at the Chevron Championship in Texas starting tonight (Australian time).
Led by major champions Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, the nine Aussies in the field betters the previous mark by two, achieved in 2003, 2004 and 2019.
Six Aussies played at the Country Club of Carlton Woods 12 months ago, those numbers bolstered by Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed graduating to the LPGA Tour in 2024 and Queenslander Robyn Choi returning after a single season in 2019.
A two-time major winner, Lee has been paired with defending champion Lilia Vu and current world No.1 Nelly Korda for the first two rounds in what is the marquee group of the opening two days.
Pictured above with Steph Kyriacou, Grace Kim and Sarah Kemp after her win at the HSBC Women’s World Championship last month, Green tees off at the same time as her fellow West Australian at 4:10am AEST, alongside Pajaree Anannarukarn and Hye-Jin Choi.
Ruffels first played in the Chevron – known then as the ANA Inspiration – in 2020 as an amateur, where she tied for 15th on debut. Still just 23 years old, Ruffels has finished top-25 in her two starts in the event since turning professional, her last appearance a tie for 25th in 2022.
Fellow LPGA Tour rookie Hira Naveed makes her major-championship debut on the back of her runner-up finish at the Ford Championship two weeks ago, a result that saw her climb 542 spots to 106th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
Round 1 tee-times, AEST
11:10pm          Grace Kim, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist
11:32pm          Robyn Choi, Jin Hee Im, Hinako Shibuno
11:43pm*        Maria Fassi, Hira Naveed, Megan Schofill (a)
4:10am           Pajaree Anannarukarn, Hye-Jin Choi, Hannah Green
4:10am*          Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu
4:32am           Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Stephanie Kyriacou, Polly Mack
4:32am*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gabriela Ruffels, Madelene Sagstrom, Lottie Woad (a)
4:43am           Perrine Delacour, Sarah Kemp, Miyu Yamashita
4:54am           Aditi Ashok, Karis Davidson, Danielle Kang
Round 2 tee-times, AEST
11:10pm         Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu
11:10pm*        Pajaree Anannarukarn, Hye-Jin Choi, Hannah Green
11:32pm          Gabriela Ruffels, Madelene Sagstrom, Lottie Woad (a)
11:32pm*        Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Stephanie Kyriacou, Polly Mack
11:43pm*        Perrine Delacour, Sarah Kemp, Miyu Yamashita
11:54pm*        Aditi Ashok, Karis Davidson, Danielle Kang
4:10am*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Grace Kim, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist
4:32am*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robyn Choi, Jin Hee Im, Hinako Shibuno
4:43am            Maria Fassi, Hira Naveed, Megan Schofill (a)
Defending champion: Lilia Vu
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2000, 2006)
Prize money: $US7.9 million
TV times: Live 12:30am-4am Friday, Saturday; Live 4am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
