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LPGA Opens 2016 Season in Paradise: Preview and TV Schedule

By Todd Brode

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The LPGA season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas field is packed with past champions and eager rookies.

With the east coast under two feet of snow, the LPGA Tour heads to Paradise Island, Bahamas for the fourth edition of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Play at the Tom Weiskopf-designed Ocean Club track will be a challenge to the women. Strong breezes off the ocean could make for a long weekend. Look for the power hitters and stronger ball strikers like Brittany Lincicome and Gerina Piller to excel.

The Field

The $1.4 million dollar event will feature 108 of the top players in the world with 11 of the top 20 in the Rolex rankings, including Anna Nordqvist, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda. Twelve players in this year’s field are 2015 Tour Champions, and ten Tour rookies will be making their LPGA debut this week. Juli Inkster, much loved 2015 Team USA Solheim Cup captain and much-celebrated 2017 Team USA Solheim Cup captain will be starting her 33rd year on the Tour when she hits her first drive on Thursday. World number one Lydia Ko is notably not in this week’s field.

Read More about the Pure Silk-Bahamas field

The 2015 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year  Sei Young Kim will be back to defend her title. Last year Kim defeated Sun Young Yoo and Ariya Jutanugarn in a dramatic one-hole playoff. Kim would go on to win two more times in 2015 in her rookie year.

The Monday Qualifiers

The final two spots in the field were filled in Monday’s qualifier by Tour players Christine Song and Brittany Altomare. Song went bogey free with a nine under par 64 (a course record) to secure her spot, which goes to show that a Rolex Ranking of no. 861 doesn’t entirely preclude one from competition. Altomare fired an impressive 68, enough to get her a tee time as well.

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Ready to Go!

With the women having almost two months off they are eager to get back out on the course for competitive play, and what more incredible place to do this than Paradise Island, Bahamas. With all the talent entered, this should make for an interesting golf weekend.

Anna Nordqvist looks to start her season off on the right foot with a win this week.  The tall and fit Swed looks to improve over last year as she only had one victory in the 2015 season.

Angela Stanford didn’t have the year she wanted and looks to rebound in 2016. She had only three top ten finishes and sits 48th in the Rolex rankings.

Paula Reto in only her third full season on the LPGA tour looks for big things in 2016. She has two top tens in her short career and would love to get off to a wonderful start in the Bahamas.

Morgan Pressel is coming off one of her best seasons to date with six top tens and two victories to her credit. She has been working hard this off season to fine tune her game and looks for exceptional things in the coming year and she’s one of the top-seeded players in the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic field.

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Television Schedule (all time ET)

Golf Channel Thursday January 28 11:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M

Golf Channel Friday January 29 11:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M

Golf Channel Saturday January 30 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M

Golf Channel Sunday January 31 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M

Next: Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic Fantasy Picks

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