Golf's major season is officially underway, and it started in style last week with Scottie Scheffler dominating to win his second Masters title at Augusta despite some very tricky conditions.
One week later and it is the turn of the women, in the first of their five majors of the season with the Chevron Championship, and like the men there will be one clear favourite to take the title...
What is the Chevron Championship?
First played in 1972, the Chevron Championship became a major in 1983 and has sat as the first major of the season ever since. It has had a number of different sponsor-related names over the years, most recently the Kraft Nabisco Championship and ANA Inspiration, but has been known as the Chevron Championship since 2022, raising the overall purse to a record $5.2 million this year.
The event was famous when it was played at Mission Hills due to winner leaping into 'Poppie's Pond', a tradition first started by Amy Alcott back in 1988 and continued by Lilia Vu last year despite the change of venue and change of water temperature...
Where is it being played?
Last year the event was moved from Mission Hills to The Club at Carlton Woods, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Texas.
The Club at Carlton Woods boasts two championship golf courses: the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and the Fazio Championship Course.
The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is known for its challenging design, featuring strategic bunkering, undulating fairways, and water hazards, while the Fazio Championship Course offers a more traditional layout with generous fairways and large greens.
First opened in 2001, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is played as a par 72 and will measure at 6,824 yards during tournament week.
What happened last year?
Last year's winner was Lilia Vu, who claimed her first major title in a dramatic finish after birdies on her final two holes forced a playoff with Angel Yin. Yin then found the water with her approach shot to the par-5 18th on the first playoff hole, whilst Vu was able to get up and down from the back of the green to make birdie and win.
Nelly Korda finished in third, a further stroke behind, with Atthaya Thitkul, Allisen Corpuz, Kim A-lim, Albane Valenzuela and Amy Yang all finishing in a tie for fourth.
Who are the favourites?
Like The Masters last week which was won by red-hot favourite Scottie Scheffler, there's one clear front-runner this week for the Chevron Championship: Nelly Korda.
After a frustrating season in 2023, the 25 year-old American has been in sensational form so far this year with four victories in her last four starts, seeking to become just the third LPGA golfer to win five in a row alongside Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez. Korda has a great record in this event, having finished T2, T3 and 3rd in her last three appearances, and it would be no surprise if she picked up her second major this week.
Lilia Vu burst on to the scene in style last year with two major victories among four LPGA tour victories, being named as Player of the Year, and will be looking to regain top spot in the World Rankings this year following a slow start to the season.
Lydia Ko is seeking her second Chevron Championship win, which would also give her enough points to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame at the ripe old age of 26, and she has been in good form this year with a win and a runner-up finish already in 2024.
Leading the charge for Europe will be Charley Hull, Leona Maguire and Celine Boutier, whilst Lottie Woad will also make her major championship and LPGA Tour debut after winning the Augusta National Women's Amateur in early April.
How Can I Watch?
Sky Sports will be showing live coverage of the action across the four days, with additional coverage available via the LPGA website and YouTube channel including highlights and interview. In the UK the TV schedule is as follows:
Thursday 18th April: Sky Sports Golf (15:00)
Friday 19th April: Sky Sports Golf (15:00)
Saturday 20th April: Sky Sports Mix (19:00)
Sunday 21st April: Sky Sports Mix (19:00)