By: Max Bechtoldt
The LPGA Match Play event, formerly sponsored by Bank of Hope, has a new sponsor in T-Mobile. Coming with it is a new date and format, but the host course will remain Shadow Creek.
While previously this event was a match play tournament for all rounds, now it will play out more like the college national championships. All players will participate in stroke play for the first 36 holes, before a cut. Then the top-65 will play one more round before the field will be cut to eight. Those eight players will then play a single elimination match play tournament to determine the winner.
This event was before held in the middle of the season, in the heat of a Las Vegas July, it is now going to be early in the year, taking place the first weekend in April. It is once again held at Shadow Creek, ranked the No. 5 public course in the country by Golf Digest.
Previously this event had a bit of a weaker field because of its placement directly before the U.S. Women’s Open, and its reputation as being one of the most draining events on the calendar. Now the field should improve, including world No. 2 and T-Mobile spokesperson Nelly Korda who has already announced she will be playing here for the first time.
