Ohio’s International Crown golf tournament has just commenced, and yet England’s team is already facing a setback. Two of England’s top golfers, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, have withdrawn from the tournament due to injuries. Hull, who was battling stomach issues, and Hall, who was advised to rest for a foot injury, have now been replaced by Alice Hewson and Liz Young. The tournament, which is organized by the LPGA, sees eight international teams competing in a round-robin group stage with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. England, which is seeded fifth in Group A alongside the United States, Sweden, and China, will now have to play their matches without Hull and Hall. The two golfers were initially part of the England team along with Bronte Law and Jodi Ewart Shadoff before their unfortunate withdrawal.
Hull and Hall’s withdrawal is a significant blow to England’s chances of winning the trophy, especially since Hull helped lead her team to the semi-finals in 2014. The England team now comprises of Alice Hewson of the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Liz Young, who is ranked 216th in the world. Law, who is ranked 17th in the world, found out about the withdrawal through “whispers” but received a belated apology from Hull on Tuesday. Hull, who competed at the Olympics in Tokyo last month, withdrew to prepare for the upcoming Open Championship at Carnoustie while defending Women’s Open champion Hall withdrew due to an unspecified injury.
England’s Injury Woes Continue
England’s golf team is facing multiple withdrawals ahead of the fifth annual Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational women’s tournament in Michigan. Hull and Hall’s withdrawal has dealt a massive blow to the team’s chances, with Bronte and Bailey Law representing England alone. Hull, who recently competed in the Olympics in Tokyo, withdrew to prepare for the upcoming Open Championship at Carnoustie, while Hall withdrew due to an unspecified injury. Fortunately, Hall has been named in the lineup for next week’s Founders Cup tournament, according to the LPGA’s website. The Law sisters have previously played together, along with Hull and Hall, on the 2019 European team for the Solheim Cup, so they have experience of playing in international competitions.
Chevron Championship Begins with Top Female Golfers in the World
The Chevron Championship, part of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, has just begun with Pei Yun Chien of Chinese Taipei leading with a score of 67, 5 under par. The tournament, which features a prize purse of $1.5m, hosts the top female golfers in the world and is held at the Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco. Marina Alex and Chella Choi of the USA and Korea, respectively, along with Ayaka Furue of Japan, Nelly Korda of the USA, Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia, and Lilia Vu of the USA, are all close behind with scores of 4 under par. The competition will also give the players a chance to rack up points for the Solheim Cup, golf’s equivalent for the Ryder Cup.
LPGA Tour Releases 2021 Season Statistics
The LPGA Tour has released its statistical rankings for the 2021 season, with Nelly Korda topping the list for rounds under par with a percentage of .90%. Georgia Hall is second on the list with .83%. Jin Young Ko and Anna Nordqvist share the lead for Greens in Regulation with .78%. Maddie Szeryk has the best putts per GIR average of 1.66, while Nelly Korda leads in birdies with 115, and Frida Kinhult and Nelly Korda are tied with five eagles each. Celine Boutier and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap share the lead for Sand Save Percentage at .75%. Many of the top players on these lists are among those competing in the Solheim Cup, which begins on September 4 in Toledo, Ohio.
Nelly Korda Continues to Lead LPGA Tour Statistics
Nelly Korda continues to lead the LPGA Tour statistics, topping the list for birdies and rounds under par. Korda has recorded 115 birdies and a 0.90% average of rounds under par this season. Star players, including Jin Young Ko, Anna Nordqvist, and Hyo Joo Kim, have topped the Greens in Regulation chart, averaging a 0.78% score. Maddie Szeryk has an average of 1.66 putts per GIR, while Celine Boutier and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap have the top Sand Save Percentage, both averaging 0.75%. Korda and Frida Kinhult are joint leaders for eagles, having shot five each. Atthaya Thitikul and Lilia Vu have the second-highest 0.90% average for rounds under par after Korda and Hall.
Conclusion
The LPGA Tour is in full swing, with the Chevron Championship underway in San Francisco following the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational women’s tournament in Michigan, where England’s injury woes continued. The Solheim Cup is the next significant event scheduled to take place on September 4 in Toledo, Ohio, where the top female golfers in the world will compete under pressure to represent their country. However, with Hull and Hall pulling out of the International Crown tournament due to injury and sickness, England’s chances of lifting the trophy have taken a massive hit.
