The LPGA Tour designates Featured Groups at each tournament, spotlighting selected players through intensive broadcast coverage during the first and second rounds. Players outside these groups rarely appear on camera, regardless of their performance, while those in the Featured Groups enjoy continuous exposure of their shots.
Two Korean players have been included in the Featured Groups for Round 1 of the LPGA Tour's Mizuho Americas Open, set to begin Thursday (local time) at Mountain Ridge Country Club (par 72) in West Caldwell, New Jersey. They are Yoon Ina, who finished fourth at both the JM Eagle LA Championship and the Chevron Championship in consecutive outings, and Choi Hye-jin, the leading money winner among players without an LPGA victory.
Yoon has been paired for the first and second rounds with the tournament's defending champion and world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, along with world No. 8 Yin Ruoning of China. While this marks Yoon's first appearance in a Featured Group and offers a prime opportunity to showcase her skills, a challenging round is expected. Thitikul and Yin are well known as close friends on the LPGA Tour, and the two teamed up to win the 2024 Dow Championship, a two-player team event.
Choi will compete in a group with Jennifer Kupcho of the United States and Ayaka Furue of Japan. Choi has recorded two top-10 finishes this year but has struggled recently, making a turnaround imperative.
Beyond the groups featuring Yoon and Choi, the LPGA Tour also designated as Featured Groups the trio of Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Charley Hull of England, and Hannah Green of South Africa, as well as the all-American group of Michelle Wie West, Yana Wilson, and Lilia Vu.
