LA QUINTA, Calif. – The Coates Golf Championship will feature five of the top six players from the Rolex Women’s World Rankings in next week’s LPGA season opener in Ocala, Fla.
The deadline for commitments passed Tuesday with 15 of the top 20 in the world rankings committed and 45 of the top 50 from last year’s LPGA money list.
Rolex world No. 1 Inbee Park, No. 2 Lydia Ko, No. 3 Stacy Lewis, No. 5 Suzann Pettersen and No. 6 Michelle Wie headline a strong field at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb and American Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster are also in the field, along with Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, So Yeon Ryu, Anna Nordqvist and Mo Martin.
Cheyenne Woods, former UCLA standout Alison Lee and former amateur world No. 1 Minjee Lee are scheduled to make their first starts as LPGA rookies.
The 72-hole stroke-play event will feature 120 players with a $1.5 million purse.