When Dinah Shore created the ANA Inspiration in 1972, she thrust it into the spotlight with celebrity friends like Sinatra, Hope and Crosby. On Sunday, no outside help will be needed as LPGA standouts like Henderson, Korda and Thompson litter a star-studded leaderboard.
A five-month delay, the absence of fans and blistering summertime heat all faded into the California desert on Saturday, overwhelmed by three days of great golf that have made this a major championship well worth the wait.
When the winner takes her plunge into Poppie’s Pond under the watchful wave of Dinah’s statue it will be welcome relief from triple-digit heat and the end of a remarkable week of innovation and adaptability by players, sponsors, staff and volunteers.
But most off all, it will be the triumph of talent.
On Saturday, Rolex Rankings No. 9 Brooke Henderson, who went out in a record-tying 30, blistered the Championship Course at Mission Hills in 65 strokes, the low round of the week, to finish 54 holes at 12-under-par 204.
That put her in a tie going into the final round with Rolex No. 3 Nelly Korda, who was nearly flawless the first two days but showed a different kind of greatness of Saturday when she bounced back from a bogey and double bogey in a front-nine 38 to grind out a 71.
Two strokes back at 206 are 2014 ANA Inspiration winner Lexi Thompson, Katherine Kirk and Mirim Lee. Carlota Ciganda is at 207 with 2011 ANA champ Stacy Lewis at 208 as are Mel Reid, Maria Fernanda Torres and 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur champ Rose Zhang.
Talk about Inspiration!
“It was definitely a solid start to my day and after that, made a bunch of birdies,” Henderson said about kick-starting her round with an eagle on the par-5 second hole.
“Nice to make the turn that many under par,” she said. “Would have liked to get a few more on the back nine but maybe tomorrow.”
Henderson, who turned 23 on Thursday, started the day six strokes behind Korda but quickly made her presence felt.
“Being moving day, I was just trying to move up as much as I could, make a lot of birdies,” Henderson said. “Trying to get into double digits under par. That was a big one. Just trying to put myself in great position going into tomorrow.”
That she has done.
Korda, 22, dominated the first two days in a way that made it seem her first major loomed on the horizon, opening 66-67 for a two-stroke lead. But the way she gutted out an under-par third round when she did not have her A game was impressive. She turned a 75 into a 71 and that’s what champions do.
“It was a disappointing front nine, but I was really proud of the way I fought on the back nine,” Korda said. “Never gave up and there’s still 18 more holes to be played, so much golf.”
Korda, 22, has already won three times on the LPGA but protecting the lead in a major championship is new territory for her.
“It was different for sure, but good,” she said. “It’s a different excitement. But hopefully I’ll get enough sleep tonight.”
Thompson has an intense history at the ANA Inspiration, winning in 2014 as a teenager and finishing second in a playoff to So Yeon Ryu in 2017 after a four-stroke penalty that led to a USGA rules change. In all, she has five top-seven finishes at the ANA, including third last year.
“It was definitely an up-and-down day,” Thompson said. “Got off to a good start on the front nine with three birdies in my first five holes. Just struggled a bit with the putter on the back nine. Gave myself a bunch of good looks. Hitting it well. Just need to keep giving myself chances and I will have a chance tomorrow.”
The 2014 ANA is the only major among the 11 LPGA wins for Thompson. That’s a part of her resume she’d like to fatten.
“It would mean the world to me to win another major, especially on this golf course as it’s one of my favorites we play all year,” Thompson said. “Just going to go out tomorrow and keep hitting good shots and hopefully a few more putts will fall on the back nine.
As if present-day star power isn’t enough, the women’s game also gave a glimpse of its future as Rose Zhang and Gabi Ruffels, who staged a memorable 38-hole duel last month in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, not only made the cut but made appearances on the leaderboard.
Zhang, a 17-year-old Californian, outlasted Ruffels in the Women’s Am and on Saturday shot 68 to be at 208, just four strokes off the lead. Ruffels, a 20-year-old Australian who plays college golf at the University of Southern California, is T-14 at 210.
“In 2018, I played the ANA Inspiration, too, because I won ANA Junior Inspiration,” said Zhang, one of the six amateur invitees who are part of the identity of the tournament.
“There were a lot of crowds out there cheering for me,” she said about 2018. “This year is obviously different because of COVID, but honestly, I’ve been receiving so many messages, so I’m really blessed.”
Golf fans have been blessed this week. Only through determination, hard work and dedication did this tournament happen. Now the stage is set for what could be an epic finish. It’s been – well – an inspiration.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
