World No.1 Jin Young Ko will play the 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration, taking place April 1 – 4 at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.
With the tournament returning to its usual position on the calendar as the first Major of the year, the 50th Anniversary is being celebrated with a look back at the past champions and especially the foundations built by Dinah Shore, whose statue takes pride of place by the 18th green.
We’re less than a month away from the 50th edition of the @ANAinspiration! 🙌
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 9, 2021
Who will etch their name into history at golf’s first major of the year? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bmVUesYIYT
Ko, who wasn’t able to defend her title in 2020, confirmed she will return to the desert where her win in 2019 saw her first climb to the top of the Rolex World Rankings. She went on to win a second major that summer at the Evian Championship and was crowned as the 2019 Rolex Player of the Year.
The South Korean star has been firmly atop of the world rankings since June 2019 and, having played mainly on the KLPGA until the end of last year, she returned stateside to continue where she left off, finishing tied second in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open and winning the season finale 2020 CME Group Tour Championship.
With the tournament celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, fellow countrywomen, Mirim Lee, will defend her title against a stellar field that not only features world No.1, Ko but also past champions Pernilla Lindberg, (2018) So-yeon Ryu, (2017) Lydia Ko, (2016) Brittany Lincicome, (2015) Lexi Thompson, (2014) Inbee Park, (2013) Stacy Lewis (2011) and Yani Tseng. (2010)
Ko commented “I can’t wait to return to Rancho Mirage. I have such happy memories from the whole week there in 2019, and with it being the first major win of my career, I think it will always be one of my most special achievements in my career. I hated missing the 2020 tournament and not having the chance to defend my title so I think I feel even more excited to return. I will be doing everything possible to prepare to give myself the best chance to win the ANA Inspiration this year.”
As with last year’s tournament, this special 50th Anniversary edition will be going ahead without spectators due to Covid-19 related restrictions following close collaboration with partners ANA, the LPGA, the City of Rancho Mirage, Mission Hills Country Club and in consultation with the Riverside County Health Department, following the State of California Public Health Department guidelines.
Fans will be able to watch the ANA Inspiration around the world, including on Golf Channel and Sky Sports, and follow along for enhanced content on social @ANAinspiration and the tournament website ANAinspiration.com.
