By: Max Bechtoldt
The 12th edition of the Cognizant Founders Cup will take place at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton New Jersey for the fourth time. The recent history of the event is defined by one name. Jin Young Ko.
Jin Young Ko has been terrific in this event. In 2019, when the event was hosted in Phoenix Ariz., Ko kicked off her LPGA Tour Player of the Year winning season. Looking back at it, the win at the 2019 Founders Cup seems like the true breakout moment for one of the most dominant modern players on tour.
Ever since the move to New Jersey in 2021, Ko has arguably been even stronger. She won in 2021 by four strokes over Caroline Masson. In 2022 she grabbed a top-20 victory in a stretch where she was dealing with injuries. Then in 2023, she had a thrilling victory over Minjee Lee in a playoff.
Ko could use a win in this early season. While her results have been strong, two top-10s in four starts including a top five at Wilshire two weeks ago, it hasn’t felt like her season has been really kick started yet.
In both seasons Ko won LPGA Player of the Year, she won at this tour stop. This would be a great way to get her season on the right track.
