The LPGA Tour opened their 2014 season with the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic on Paradise Island.
While most of the continental United States battled snow and cold the ladies enjoyed bright sunshine and warm ocean breezes.
This was the first time for several years that the ladies did not have to travel half-way around the world to start the season in Australia or Asia.
This was also the first time since 2001 that the LPGA Tour was able to begin the season in January. The timing seemed perfect starting the week between the NFL Championship playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Even though Inbee Park and Suzann Pettersen weren’t in the field, they were not missed. The top of the leaderboard contained Stacy Lewis, Jessica Korda, Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi and Lizette Salas.
Korda posted a seven-under par 66 in the final round on Sunday and finished at 19-under par for the 72-hole tournament.
Stacy Lewis, No 3 in the world rankings, finished with her own 66, but one shot behind Korda. Lewis is beginning 2014 just like she ended last season, with another top-10 finish.
This was Korda’s second tour win. Her first came at the start of the 2012 season in the Women’s Australian Open. She survived a six-way playoff that also included Lewis.
Korda will turn 21 years old next month and sometimes gets overlooked as one of the young stars of the LPGA with Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson grabbing headlines.
Speaking of super-teenager Ko, she finished at 15-under par for the week and collected $31,500 for her T-8. This was her second top-10 finish in just three starts as a professional and she is already ranked No. 4 in the world.
This begs the question, will 16-year-old Ko reach the No. 1 spot on the Rolex Rankings before or after her 18th birthday?
Pornanong Phatlum, Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi and Lizette Salas all finished at 16-under par for joint third.
Michelle Wie was near the top of the leaderboard on Friday, after her first two rounds of 72-65. She finished with rounds of 72-71 on the weekend that left her at 12-under par, good for T-18.
The 2014 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic was a huge success and hopefully will be continue to start the LPGA season for several years to come.