Hall of Famer Karrie Webb returning to LPGA play at Gainbridge tournament
BOCA RATON — World Golf Hall-of-Fame member and multiple major champion Karrie Webb will return to LPGA Tour competition for the first time in two years at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.
The tournament takes place Jan. 24-30 at Boca Rio Golf Club.
Webb, a seven-time major champion from Australia who lives in Boynton Beach, last played a full-time schedule on the LPGA Tour in 2017. She joins Laura Davies as the two Hall-of-Famers competing in the Gainbridge.
“We are honored to have Karrie Webb joining the field and are excited to welcome the world’s best players back to Palm Beach County for the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio,” said Lesley Baker, executive director for the tournament. “We are equally as excited to welcome back fans to the tournament this year and presenting Southeast Florida on a global scale, both in person and to television audiences around the world.”
Webb will join a stacked field, featuring 16 of the top-25 players in the world, headlined by World No. 1 and defending champion Nelly Korda and fan favorites / major champions Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson. The first full-field event for the 2022 LPGA Tour season will include a field of 120 players competing for a share of a $2 million purse.
The final three spots in the field will be determined on Monday via the Monday Qualifier at Boca Rio Golf Club (two spots) along with the winner of this week’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, if not already eligible.
The field features 16 of the top-25 ranked players in the world according to the Jan. 17 Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings, including Nelly Korda (1), Lydia Ko (3), Inbee Park (4), Nasa Hataoka (6), Yuka Saso (8), Danielle Kang (10), Brooke Henderson (11), Lexi Thompson (12), Patty Tavatanakit (13), Ayaka Furue (14), Anna Nordqvist (16), Jeong Eun Lee6 (19), Atthaya Thitikul (20), Ally Ewing (21), Jessica Korda (22) and Ariya Jutanugarn (23).
Jaye Marie Green (Jupiter) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Boca Raton) join Thompson (Delray Beach). Jessica Korda (Jupiter) and Webb as Southeast Florida residents competing in the championship.
2022 sponsor exemptions include Taylor Collins and Nishtha Madan. Collins is currently a PGA Teaching Professional at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale. She captured the South Florida PGA Section Championship in September, becoming the first woman to win the tournament in its 42-year history. Madan, formerly India’s top-ranked women’s amateur and a two-time member of the Indian National Team, turned professional in 2020 following a standout collegiate career at Sacramento State University.
Tickets are on sale, including exclusive hospitality and general admission tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. Go to: GainbridgeLPGA.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hall of Famer Karrie Webb will play Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club
