[Photo: Tristan Jones/LET]
Rising Aussie duo Kelsey Bennett and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard will share a career first this week when they tee it up in their first LPGA Tour event as professionals in the United States.
For the first time, the Aramco Championship that has been a feature on the Ladies European Tour for a number of years will be co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour, combining the two strongest tours in women’s golf.
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Given the already record number of Aussies currently playing on the LPGA Tour, the addition of both Bennett and Hinson-Tolchard [above] takes the total number of Australians in the field to 10.
Both Bennett and Hinson-Tolchard played in the Aramco Houston Championship in Texas last September as a stand-alone LET event and the LPGA Tour co-sanctioned Scottish Women’s Open at Dundonald Links. Hinson-Tolchard also played the 2023 US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach prior to turning professional.
This will have a decidedly LPGA feel, however, as the likes of Jeeno Thitikul, Nelly Korda, Hyo Joo Kim and Charley Hull also tee it up at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
For two players with eyes on joining the Aussie invasion in the US on a permanent basis, it is an ideal opportunity to see how their games stack up.
“The way I’ve played over the last couple of weeks, I think anything inside the top 20 is going to be a great result,” said Hinson-Tolchard, who was tied 29th at the Australian Open and tied for ninth at the Australian WPGA Championship.
“Obviously going up against a whole heap of LPGA players, it’s going to be a very different tournament and a higher calibre than what we’re used to, but we’re still playing against some of the same girls that we always play against.
“You have to try and not put too much pressure on yourself and just go in and enjoy the week.
“We’re playing at Shadow Creek, which is supposedly one of the hardest golf courses in the world. So I mean, anything can happen. If the course suits me, I could have a great week.
“I just have to enjoy the experience. I haven’t been back to the US in a while, so I get to actually see a few college teammates while I’m there and just have a bit of fun.”
The Aussie infusion is also elevated at this week’s International Series Japan event on the Asian Tour.
The inaugural event last year was won by Lucas Herbert, fellow Victorian Cameron John among 13 Aussies fresh off his third win of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season at The National.
John is joined in Japan by four other winners this past season, Travis Smyth (ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship), Chris Wood (Ford NSW Open), Cory Crawford (PNG Open) and Will Florimo (Heritage Classic).
Round 1 tee-times (AEDT)
LPGA Tour
Aramco Championship
Shadow Creek, Las Vegas, Nevada
1:22am Robyn Choi
1:33am Karis Davidson
1:55am Gabriela Ruffels
1:55am* Kelsey Bennett
2:17am* Hannah Green, Lydia Ko (NZ)
5:45am Stephanie Kyriacou
5:45am* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Grace Kim
6:18am* Cassie Porter
6:51am Minjee Lee
7:13am* Amelia Garvey (NZ)
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: $US4m
TV times: Live 10am-1pm Friday, Saturday; Live 7am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
Asian Tour
International Series Japan
Caledonian Golf Club, Japan
8:25am Maverick Antcliff
8:40am* Nick Voke (NZ)
8:45am Justin Warren
9:05am Jack Thompson
9:30am* Kevin Yuan
9:35am Cory Crawford
1:10pm Harrison Crowe
1:15pm* Scott Hend
1:20pm Wade Ormsby
1:40pm Travis Smyth
1:45pm* Jed Morgan
2:05pm* Denzel Ieremia (NZ)
2:10pm Cameron John
2:25pm* Chris Wood
2:35pm* Will Florimo
Recent champion: Lucas Herbert
Past Aussie winners: Lucas Herbert (2025)
Prizemoney: $US2m
TV times: Live 3pm-7pm Thursday, Friday; Live from 2pm Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
PGA Tour
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas
4:30am* Karl Vilips
Recent champion: Brian Harman
Past Aussie winners: Joe Kirkwood (1924), Bruce Crampton (1964), Adam Scott (2010), Steven Bowditch (2014)
Prizemoney: $US9.8m
TV times: Live 11pm-10am Thursday, Friday; Live 12am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
Korn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
Lakewood National Golf Club (Commander Cse), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
10:53pm* Rhein Gibson
Recent champion: Neal Shipley
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: $US1m