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Fan's Guide: What you need to know to enjoy the LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton CC

Doug Fernandes, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·6 min read

BRADENTON — Observing the 100th anniversary of the Bradenton Country Club, the LPGA Drive On Championship, the first full-field event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Donald Ross-designed venue.

The 72-hole event will feature a field of 120 players competing for a $1.75 million purse.

“We are incredibly thankful to the leadership and membership of the Bradenton Country Club for sharing their beautiful venue with us,” said Rick Lasky, the LPGA Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer. “This event celebrates the LPGA’s long-standing mission of using our sport to showcase our elite players and our continued push for excellence.”

Interested? This fan guide should answer some of your questions.

Who are some of the top names playing?

Nelly Korda tees off on the first hole at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Nelly Korda tees off on the first hole at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

The event will include the top four players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings: No. 1 Lilia Vu, No. 2 Ruoning Yin, No. 3 Celine Boutier, and No. 4 Nelly Korda.

Korda, who lives in Bradenton, is one of six Floridians in the field, along with Tampa-area native Brittany Lincicome and fan-favorite Lexi Thompson. Korda, Lincicome and Thompson are three of the 21 major winners teeing it up, led by five-time champion Yani Tseng, who is competing in her first LPGA Tour event since 2021.

There are also 31 Olympians in the Drive On field, including 2020 gold medalist Korda, silver medalist Mone Inami, and bronze medalist Lydia Ko, who won last week’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, earning the 20th victory of her LPGA Tour career. She is now just one point shy of qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, meaning a victory in Bradenton could enshrine the New Zealander as the 35th member of that illustrious group.

U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Stacy Lewis will compete alongside nine U.S. Team members from 2023, including leading American points earner Megan Khang. Lewis will name her 2024 team in August, following the AIG Women’s Open.

Think you’re as good as the pros?

During the four days of the tournament, fans can put their golf skills to the test at two interactive stations. Got chops on the green? Stop by the Long-Putt Challenge and show off your talent with the flatstick. Fans who sink the long putt will be entered to win special prizes. Better off the tee? Visit the Bradenton Country Club Pro Shop and go long in the Long-Drive Competition. The long-drive champion will earn bragging rights, along with a $500 LPGAProShop.com gift card.

Thirsty fans can visit Tito’s Trailer and enjoy five signature cocktails: the Tito’s Transfusion, the Bradenton Bloody, the Sunrise Stinger, the Fairway Fizz and the Mulligan Mimosa. Non-alcoholic options will also be available for fans participating in Dry January. On the way out, fans can get a selfie at the Fan Photo Booth. Snap a pic with friends and family and get an instant copy of your photo to share on social. Tag the LPGA’s social channels and use the hashtag #DriveOn for the chance to appear on the official tournament feeds (@LPGA, X; @lpga_tour, Instagram).

Interested in going?

Tickets are available for purchase at SeatGeek.com. Daily tickets start at $30 for General Admission, with weekly passes starting at $99. Champions Club hospitality tickets start at $225 for daily admission and $800 for weekly access. The Champions Club provides premium access to an open-air structure with views of the 16th green and 17th tee and includes an open bar and lunch/snack options. To honor those who serve our country in the United States Armed Forces, the LPGA is pleased to offer current and former members of the U.S. Military and certain guests complimentary grounds tickets regardless of sell-out. Additionally, juniors aged 17 and under will receive complimentary admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on junior tickets, visit SeatGeek.com.

Will it be shown on TV?

On Thursday, coverage runs from noon to 3 p.m. on the Golf Channel and Peacock Network. On Friday, from noon to 3 p.m. on the Golf Channel and Peacock Network. On Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the NBCS app and Peacock Network, and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Golf Channel and Peacock Network. On Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Golf Channel and Peacock Network.

Who are the golfers?

Paula Creamer waives to the crowd during round 1 of the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship in at Kenwood Country Club in Madeira, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Credit: Albe
Paula Creamer waives to the crowd during round 1 of the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship in at Kenwood Country Club in Madeira, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Credit: Albe

The 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship Field

Marina Alex (USA), Lindy Duncan (USA), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG), Ally Ewing (USA), Maria Fassi (MEX), Isabella Fierro (MEX), Laney Frye (a) (USA), Ayaka Furue (JPN), Isi Gabsa (GER), Sofia Garcia (PAR), Kristen Gillman (USA), Linn Grant (SWE), Savannah Grewal (CAN), Nataliya Guseva (RUS), Georgia Hall (ENG), Lauren Hartlage (USA), Nasa Hataoka (JPN), Brooke M. Henderson (CAN), Esther Henseleit (GER), Daniela Holmqvist (SWE), Wei-Ling Hsu (TPE), Narin An (KOR), Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA), Laetitia Beck (ISR), Celine Borge (NOR), Celine Boutier (FRA), Matilda Castren (FIN), Peiyun Chien (TPE), Hye-Jin Choi (KOR), Robyn Choi (AUS), In Gee Chun (KOR), Carlota Ciganda (ESP), Jenny Coleman (USA), Allisen Corpuz (USA), Lauren Coughlin (USA), Olivia Cowan (GER), Paula Creamer (USA), Daniela Darquea (ECU), Perrine Delacour (FRA), Gemma Dryburgh (SCO), Jin Hee Im (KOR), Mone Inami (JPN), Caroline Inglis (USA), Hyo Joon Jang (KOR), Jiwon Jeon (KOR), Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Moriya Jutanugarn (THA), Haeji Kang (KOR), Minji Kang (KOR), Minami Katsu (JPN), Gurleen Kaur (USA), Sarah Kemp (AUS), Megan Khang (USA), A Lim Kim (KOR), Auston Kim (USA), Gina Kim (USA), Grace Kim (AUS), Sei Young Kim (KOR), Frida Kinhult (SWE), Cheyenne Knight (USA), Lydia Ko (NZL), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN), Nelly Korda (USA), Jennifer Kupcho (USA), Agathe Laisne (FRA), Maude-Aimee Leblanc (CAN), Andrea Lee (USA), Mi Hyang Lee (KOR), So Mi Lee (KOR), Jeongeun Lee5 (KOR), Stacy Lewis (USA), Lucy Li (USA), Xiyu Lin (CHN), Brittany Lincicome (USA), Pernilla Lindberg (SWE), Roberta Liti (ITA), Mary Liu (CHN), Yan Liu (CHN), Yu Liu (CHN), Gaby Lopez (MEX), Polly Mack (GER), Leona Maguire (IRL), Stephanie Meadow (NIR), Morgane Metraux (SUI), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Malia Nam (USA), Yealimi Noh (USA), Ryann O'Toole (USA), Alexa Pano (USA), Sung Hyun Park (KOR), Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN), Mel Reid (ENG), Paula Reto (RSA), Gabriela Ruffels (AUS), Hae Ran Ryu (KOR), Madelene Sagstrom (SWE), Mao Saigo (JPN), Sarah Schmelzel (USA), Jennifer Song (USA), Angela Stanford (USA), Maja Stark (SWE), Linnea Strom (SWE), Yu Jin Sung (KOR), Jasmine Suwannapura (THA), Elizabeth Szokol (USA), Bailey Tardy (USA), Patty Tavatanakit (THA), Lexi Thompson (USA), Yani Tseng (TPE), Mariajo Uribe (COL), Albane Valenzuela (SUI), Lilia Vu (USA), Chanettee Wannasaen (THA), Amy Yang (KOR), Ruoning Yin (CHN), Xiaowen Yin (CHN), Arpichaya Yubol (THA), Liqi Zeng (CHN).

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: LPGA Drive On Championship to feature Nelly Korda and No. 1 player Lilia Vu