It’s a tournament that’s been three years in the making, but finally the LPGA Tour is heading back to Vancouver.
This year’s CPKC Women’s Open was originally scheduled for 2020 but, well, we all know what happened. The event was then swapped with Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club last year and will be contested by Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club starting Aug. 24.
When the best in the world tee off at the Vancouver gem, it will become the first course this century to host both the CPKC Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open, with the PGA Tour teeing it up in 2011.
“Together with our friends at CPKC, we are very excited to treat golf fans to the much-anticipated return of the CPKC Women’s Open to Vancouver,” said Tournament Director Ryan Paul.
CPKC (Canadian Pacific Railway recently underwent a merger with Kansas City Southern, hence the fresh acronym) recently announced it would be extending its partnership with Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour for up to four more years. The purse for this year’s national women’s open has also increased to $2.5 million (U.S.) from $2.35 million the year prior.
Paul, the tournament director, said there were a few silver linings in having the event delayed by a few years including the installation of “The Rink” hole. The popular fan activation from the RBC Canadian Open made its debut on the LPGA Tour side last year in Ottawa to much fanfare. It will be built out on the par-3 17th at Shaughnessy this year.
Brooke Henderson will once again be the face of the tournament.
“I’ve always considered this the sixth major for me,” Henderson told Sportsnet in a pre-tournament television interview. “I have great memories of Vancouver. I love the Pacific northwest. The tall trees and the beautiful nature and scenery, I’m excited to be back and playing such an amazing golf course where the men have played. Finally we’re here, and I think it’s just a great movement for the women’s game right now and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
Henderson, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the world, will be joined by plenty of the game’s best including newly-minted world No.1 Lilia Vu. Vu won two majors this season including the first of the year – the Chevron Championship – and the final major of the year – the AIG Women’s Open. With three wins on the season, Vu is looking for even more success in Canada this year.
Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko, who have both held the No.1 spot this year, will also be in the field along with new LPGA star Rose Zhang and Lydia Ko, who is looking for her record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.
Eleven players earned sponsor invites on Aug. 14, with five more announcements to come. The Monday qualifier will take place on Aug. 21 at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Of those 11 invites, seven went to Canadians including Alena Sharp – a winner on the Epson Tour this year and who will play in her 18th CPKC Women’s Open. Sharp was the low Canadian a year ago in Ottawa, finishing tied for 17th.
Vancouver resident and Shaughnessy member Victoria Liu has also accepted an exemption to compete at her home golf club.
Paula Reto heads to Shaughnessy looking to successfully defend her title from 2022.
Reto, whose CPKC Women’s Open win was her first career triumph on the LPGA Tour, won by one over Korda and Hye-Jin Choi, with Lydia Ko a shot further back.
“It’s something I’ll always remember,” Reto said.
When it comes to this year’s CPKC Women’s Open, hopefully good things come to those who wait.
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