The Ford Championship is back in the Phoenix area at a new host, Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler. The 2024 version of the event was defined by heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend. In 2025, the weather should be cooperating much better, giving the typical, beautiful Spring in Arizona feel. This is also the first real full field of the year, with 19 of the top 20 in action. Here are the five players most likely to win The Ford Championship:
RIO TAKEDA – Rio Takeda, coming off her win at the Blue Bay LPGA by six strokes, is back in the field at the Ford Championship, and looks to be a new week-in-week-out superstar. While Takeda’s putting lags behind currently, she is top 10 in strokes gained in 2025 and has the most under par rounds on the season. Takeda has three top 10 finishes so far and four top 25 finishes. It feels like a safe bet for Takeda to continue her hot streak.
NELLY KORDA – Nelly Korda came back from a long layover in 2024 and showed total and complete dominance. She pulled a similar schedule here, and has had a chance to rest and work on her game after not playing on the Asian swing. Korda was playing dominant golf to begin the season, with two top seven seasons and dominance in almost every star, including her putting which looked improved from what we are used to seeing out of her.
SARAH SCHMELZEL – I do think Sarah Schmelzel’s first win is coming in the very near future, and being at home may help her get over the hump. It seemingly did last year, when she was in the final group on Sunday. Schmelzel is coming off the best finish of her young season, putting forward a strong, quiet top five finish at Blue Bay.
A LIM KIM – The current leader for the LPGA Player of the Year award, there’s no reason to believe that A Lim Kim will slow down anytime soon. Kim hasn’t finished outside the top 20 this year, and along with her win in the season opener has two other top seven finishes so far. Kim currently ranks top 50 in every strokes gained category, which includes some dominance when it comes to ball striking.
JEENO THITIKUL – Betting for Jeeno Thitikul is always a strong idea. The superstar from Thailand enters her first tournament in the United States already with three top 15 finishes, two of which were in the top three. She is third in strokes gained on tour so far in 2025, and is truly a fully faceted player. She is elite on approach shots and is one of the best putters on the tour. She is almost always in contention and is the betting favorite for the week from oddsmakers.
