. . World News – CA – Double the Challenge at U. . S.. . Women’s Open on two golf courses

Maja Stark from Sweden watches her tee shot on the first hole during a practice round in the U. . S.. . Women’s Open Golf Championship Tuesday, Dec. . 8, 2020, in Houston. (David J. . Phillip / AP)

HOUSTON – Inbee Park is trying to stick to a routine in the U.. S.. . Women’s Open to make sure she’s not exhausted before the tournament starts. As a two-time champion, she prefers to play no more than nine holes in each of the three training rounds.

The USGA is using two golf courses for the first 36 holes for the first time. This is the only way she can hold a full field in the Champions Golf Club in a pandemic year in which the qualification phase has already been completed.

For players, this means learning about Jackrabbit and Cypress Creek courses and collecting as much as possible before the Texas-born Angela Stanford hits the first tee on Thursday.

« U. . S.. . Women’s Open golf courses are difficult to learn, but trying to learn two difficult golf courses is definitely a big task for everyone this week, « said Park on Wednesday. « There are only three busy days we have to spend before the tournament starts.

« I rarely play 18-hole practice rounds before the tournament starts because we play 18-holes Thursday through Sunday and I usually do nine. But I had to play 18 yesterday. I wanted to play 18 twice, but my body was just too tired, « she said. « I chose nine, 18, nine. That will be enough. « 

These are not complaints. The 156 players at Champions love to play, no matter how different everything feels, from the two golf courses to the season. Park returned to South Korea for seven weeks and said it felt like the off-season and now the women have the $ 5. 5 million u. . S.. . Women’s Open and the $ 5 million CME Group Tour Championship for consecutive weeks.

The Women’s Open was supposed to be the first week of June until the COVID-19 pandemic turned the LPGA tour off for more than five months. The best option was two weeks before Christmas, which made this the last major of the year.

The USGA created an all-exempt field to reflect what is normally achieved in qualifying, just as it did for the men’s U.. S.. . Open at Winged Foot in September. Given the limited daylight hours, it was lucky to be at the prestigious Champions Golf Club run by Jack Burke Jr. Founded. and Jimmy Demaret and previously hosted a Ryder Cup, U. . S.. . Open and the Tour Championship.

Cypress Creek, which is used for the weekend, is characterized by its large greens, the largest park since St. . Andrews. It plays at 6. 731 yards for a par 71, a tough test. Jackrabbit is at 6. 558 yards with a pair of par 5s longer than 520 yards. It’s not exactly a pitch and putt.

The timing for women’s golf is great as a social media campaign called « Women Worth Watching » has been launched. « It’s the biggest event on the American golf calendar this week, with TV coverage over the weekend.

There is a fight for no. 1 between Jin Young Ko and Sei Young Kim, who won the women’s PGA championship in Aronimink in October while Ko was still at home in South Korea to fight the pandemic.

« I’ve dreamed of being no since I was young. One day in the world, « said Kim. « I’m glad I have the chance. « 

Ko dreamed of winning the U. S.. . Women open. She won two majors last year during her rise to the No.. 1 and an overview of all major LPGA Tour Awards. But that’s the major she wants.

Like so many other South Koreans, she has memories of Se Ri Pak, who won the Women’s Open at the Blackwolf Run, the beginning of South Korean dominance in women’s golf. Jeongeun Lee6 won at the Country Club of Charleston last year, the eighth time in the past 12 years that a South Korean won what has long been considered the greatest event in women’s golf.

« When I was 3 years old, I was watching TV on my father’s knee to see Se Ri’s win in this tournament, » said Ko. « And when I saw that, I wanted to play golf. So I started. So yeah, I want to get the U. S.. . Open trophy. « 

It’s going to be tougher than most, especially with an extra golf course and most of the key players who spent the last week in cold temperatures at a tournament outside of Dallas.

Alena Sharp arrived in Houston and played 18 holes on each course in the first few days.

« It just tries to remember all of the holes when you get back out there to play the tournament, » Sharp said. « I think it’s going to be a mental strain on everyone so you just have to stay positive and, honestly, land in the middle of the greens. I think that’s the game plan. « 

Choose as many teams as you want from the following leagues. You can change your selection at any time.

Your statement does not contain enough breaking news. We will let you know the latest news as it becomes available or you can add more options to your settings.

We have sent an email with instructions on how to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.

By activating this check box, I agree to Rogers Media’s terms of use and privacy policy.

By activating this check box, I agree to Rogers Media’s terms of use and privacy policy.

We did not recognize this password reset code. Enter your email address to receive a new one.

Unfortunately we were unable to verify this email address. Enter your email address below and we will send you another email.

United States Women’s Open Championship, LPGA