First Round of ANA Inspiration Golf Tournament Begins

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA - The first round of the 46th annual ANA Inspiration golf tournament, the first LPGA major of the year, will feature some of the world's best female golfers competing for a $2.7 million purse Thursday in Rancho Mirage.

The tournament, held through Sunday at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club, includes some of the biggest names in the LPGA, including past tournament winners Lydia Ko, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, and other top-ranking players such as World No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn and 14-year-old phenom Lucy Li, who secured the final playing spot in the tournament by winning the ANA Junior Inspiration.

Ko is looking to defend her 2016 championship, as well as bounce back after missing the cut in the Kia Classic in Carlsbad last week. Meanwhile, Jutunugarn has the chance to overtake Ko as World No. 1 if she wins and Ko finishes 5th or worse.

The winner will take the traditional leap into Poppie's Pond at tournament's end, an ANA Inspiration staple sparked by Amy Alcott's spontaneous 1988 leap into the water following her tournament victory.

While rain was not expected to be a threat during the tournament, the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for the Coachella Valley through Thursday night, indicating sustained wings of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph expected. The warning is set to expire at 11 p.m.

Tickets starting at $38 remain available at https://www.anainspiration.com/tickets/ . Kids 17 and under get in for free with a paid adult admission. Active and retired military members and their families also will receive free admission when proper ID is shown.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock