The first event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season teed off at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club in Orlando, Florida. Debuting in 2109, the tournament is limited to winners of LPGA Tour events over the past two years. There is also a pro-am and celebrity event. The top amateurs during the pro-am play in the main tournament. A Stableford-based scoring system is used for the celebrity portion of the event. Gaby Lopez won last year for the LPGA portion of the event in a playoff.
Round One
Defending champion Gaby Lopez started strong with six birdies and no bogeys for a round of 65. Lopez and the Korda sisters, Jessica and Nelly, were all a shot behind Danielle Kang, who led after a round of 64. Brittany Lincicome and Stacey Lewis were just two shots off the pace, while Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson and Angela Stanford were at minus-four.
In the celebrity portion of the event, Mardy Fish shot a 66, good for 41 points. He was two points ahead of Aaron Hicks and four over Derek Lowe. Defending champion John Smoltz, Deron Williams, and Josh Scobee were six points back. LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam finished 7th with 34 points and a round of 73. Blair O’Neal, the only other woman in the celebrity event, was tied for 11th with 31 points and a round of 76.
Round Two
Danielle Kang continued her nearly flawless play, posting six birdies and no bogeys for a round of 65. She finished at –13 and was two shots ahead of Nelly Korda, who recorded a round of 66. In Gee Chun and Gaby Lopez stayed in the mix at nine-under. Jessica Korda went as low at 11-under before three bogeys over the last four holes to put her five-back after 36 holes. Cheyenne Knight came in at seven-under after a 66. Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson and Angela Stanford fell seven off the pace and would need a great third round to get back into the mix. After an opening round of 66, Brittany Lincicome struggled on a day when most players scored well. She shot a 74 and was 11 shots back.
Mardy Fish continued to play excellent golf with 37 points in round two and 78 overall. He led the celebrity portion of the event by five points over MLB’s Aaron Hicks and former NFL kicker Josh Scobee. Annika Sorenstam scored 31 points and had a two-day total of 65, while Blair O’Neal was at 58 after struggling to a round of 80.
Round Three
An eight-birdie, no bogey round by Danielle Kang moved her to 21-under par and a two-shot lead over Jessica Korda, who scorched the course for a round of 60. She had nine birdies and an eagle and posted an unthinkable 28 on the back nine. Nelly Korda was at –15 after a round of 67 and was six off the pace. In Gee Chun was alone in fourth but was eight shots behind. Brooke Henderson’s 65 vaulted her to sole possession of fifth. Brittany Lincicome’s roller coaster ride continued, posting a 64 after a 74 in round two.
Mardy Fish continued to pace in the celebrity tournament, finishing round three with 117 points. Josh Scobee was at 111, Aaron Hicks had 110, and Chad Pfeifer got into the mix with 108 points. Annika Sorenstam stayed in the top ten with a round of 71 and showed flashes of her past glory with birdies on the last two for a total of 101 points. Blair O’Neal posted a round of 77 and was 24th with 77 points.
Final Round
Having gone more than 80 holes without a bogey, it would be a bogey on the 15th that deemed costly for Danielle Kang. She finished with a round of three-under and 24-under total. Jessica Korda tied Kang with a four-under par run over the final five holes. She ran with the momentum into the playoff, winning with a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. The win was the sixth of her LPGA career and first since 2018. Nelly Korda finished third at 22-under, while In Gee Chun finished fourth at 17-under par. Bronte Law posted the round of the day with a 63 which included nine birdies and bogey.
In the celebrity portion of the event, Mardy Fish ran away with 158 points and 14-under par in the process. Chad Pfeifer was second at 147 and Mark Mulder was third with 145 points. Annika Sorenstam made a fine showing with 134 points and a 9th place finish, while Blair O’Neal finished 17th with 126 points.
Congratulations to this year's winner, Jessica Korda!
Coming Up
The ladies have a month off before returning to Orlando for the Gainbridge LPGA February 25-28. Madelene Sagstrom won the inaugural event last year by one shot over Nasa Hataoka for her first LPGA win. The purse for this 72-hole event is $2 million with 500 points up for the CME Race to the Globe.
