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Nelly Korda Returns to LPGA Tour for 2025 Ford Championship
After a planned seven-week break from the LPGA Tour, world No. 1 Nelly Korda is back in action, kicking off her 2024 title defense at the 2025 Ford Championship on Thursday afternoon. Last year, Korda made history with a five-tournament winning streak, but this year, the 26-year-old has taken a more strategic approach, opting out of the tour’s recent Asia swing after starting her 2025 season with two Top 10 finishes. “It’s always nice to take time off when you’re not injured and hopefully improve, catching up on any lost time,” Korda told Golfweek on Wednesday. Rest has also been a key part of world No. 3 Lydia Ko's strategy. The New Zealander arrives at the Phoenix event after a three-week break, carrying momentum from her 23rd career title, which she secured at the 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore on March 2nd. Korda and Ko will be joined by all 10 of the LPGA's top-ranked players at the Ford Championship, marking the first time this year the entire top 10 will compete together. Among them are Australia’s No. 5 Hannah Green, the US's No. 6 Lilia Vu, and South Korea’s No. 8 Jin Young Ko, all vying for a share of the $2.25 million purse. Story by Dee Lab
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NY Liberty Announce Dedicated State-of-the-Art Brooklyn Practice Facility
WHAT A BREAKTHROUGH FOR WOMAN'S SPORTS!
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Wakimoto maintains her lead after the 2nd round of the TOTO Japan Classic
SHIGA, Japan (AP) — Hana Wakimoto shot a 4-under 68 on Friday to maintain her lead after the second round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic. The Japanese player shot a 63 in the opening round and continued to set the pace with a 13-under-par total of 131 after 36 holes. Yealimi Noh of the United States and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand were two strokes off the lead after the second round. Noh shot 65 and Jutanugarn carded a 66. Rio Takeda of Japan was three behind after a 65. Noh, who has been using a new putting stance over the past year, birdied her first hole of the day, the par-5 1st, and made pars on her next two holes. The 23-year-old then had four consecutive birdies. “For me, last year, I was really struggling with my putting and I just needed something new and something completely different,” said Noh, who needed only 20 putts throughout her second round Friday. “I never even thought of trying it but my coach and my dad suggested it to me and I tried it. It helped me get over that uneasy feeling over the ball. So, that’s how it started and now using it a year after, my stroke has gotten really solid and my speed is great with the putter so it has helped me a lot.” Story by Associated Press
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Hana Wakimoto of Japan shoots 9-under 63 to lead after the first round of Toto Japan Classic
SHIGA, Japan (AP) — Hana Wakimoto of Japan shot a bogey-free 9-under 63 on Thursday to lead by two shots after the first round of the LPGA's Toto Classic in Japan. Jin Young Ko of South Korea was two off the pace after a 65 at Seta Golf Course. Four players carded 66s to be within three shots of Wakimoto: Linn Grant, Ayake Furue, Hyo Joo Kim, and Jenny Shin. Wakimoto's score tied the Seta course record and was the best round of her career. "Recently my ball striking has been very good, so I have been confident and I could attack the pins today,” said Wakimoto, who is leading the field in most birdies made (9) and is tied for the fewest number of putts through the first round. Story by Associated Press
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Field Breakdown: 2024 TOTO Japan Classic
The TOTO Japan Classic marks the fourth and final week that the LPGA Tour will be competing in Asia. The 78-player field teeing it up at Seta Golf Course in Shiga, Japan features four past champions, including two-time winner Jiyai Shin, and six of this year’s 18 total winners, most notably Japanese major champions Ayaka Furue and Yuka Saso. Thirty-five players from the JLPGA Tour will also be competing, a group that includes twin sisters Akie and Chisato Iwai. Story by LPGA Staff
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How to Watch the 2024 TOTO Japan Classic
Fans can watch on the Golf Channel as the LPGA Tour is back in Japan for the TOTO Japan Classic at the beautiful Seta Golf Course in Otsu-shi, Shiga, Japan. The field of 78 players is headlined by six LPGA Tour Players representing Japan: Ayaka Furue, Minami Katsu, Yuna Nishimura, Mao Saigo, Yuka Saso and Hinako Shibuno as they compete for a $2 million purse. TV/STREAMING TIMES (All times ET) Wednesday, Oct. 30: 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Golf Channel) Thursday, Oct. 31: 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Golf Channel) Friday, Nov. 1: 11:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. (Golf Channel - Round 2 Encore) Saturday, Nov. 2: 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Golf Channel) LIVE COVERAGE CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON DIGITAL All the news and tournament action surrounding the TOTO Japan Classic can be accessed at any time on any mobile device and online through the help of golfchannel.com, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Story by Jennifer Meyer
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New faces, big dreams: What's at stake for Zheng, Paolini at WTA Finals
Frequent-flier and hotel points are always lovely, but the truly ultimate reward? Consider the WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, which runs from Nov. 2-9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There’s more than $15 million available to the world’s best eight singles players and doubles teams, plus scads of rankings points -- the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box for a season (more than) well done. This is becoming routine stuff for Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, both appearing in their fourth year-end championship and looking forward to determining the year-end No.1 for the second straight year. But for first-timers Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini -- both Olympic gold medalists in Paris -- it will be the culmination of years of hard work, developing technique, grinding through training -- and dreaming of this glittering opportunity. Story by Greg Garber
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Maja Stark Leads, Four Trail Close Behind at the Maybank Championship
Following the second round of the Maybank Championship, Swede Maja Stark finds herself in the lead after recording her second consecutive round of 66 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Players starting in the afternoon battled the rain as a two-hour weather delay plagued Friday’s round. Teeing off on No. 1, Stark opened with a birdie on the first hole to begin her day on a nice start. She proceeded to make birdies on the next two par 5s, holes 3 and 5, and was three-under through the first five holes. A bogey on the par-3 8th brought her down a shot and Stark carded a 34 on the front nine. The highlight of Stark’s round would then come on the next four holes, where she made four consecutive birdies from No. 10 to 13. The birdies jumped her into the lead, and there were no players that were able to reach her from then on. She parred her remaining five holes on Friday to card another six-under 66 and have a one-shot lead going into Saturday. “It went very well. I think I was pretty solid off the tee,” said Stark. “Had a lot of short irons. Then it was -- I've been struggling a bit with my putting this whole year, but I feel like I really had an easier time seeing the lines here than I usually do.” Story by LPGA Communications
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The WNBA's 2024 sponsorship wins by the numbers
The WNBA’s in its transformation era after a record-breaking season, but what does all this growth mean specifically for league sponsorship? Data platform Relo Metrics released a report this morning exploring how brands are thriving thanks to their women’s hoops investment. Story by The Gist
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