NORTON, Mass. — The LPGA makes its long-awaited return to Massachusetts this week, and there are many native ties within the discipline.
The inaugural FM Championship tees off Thursday morning at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass. It is the primary skilled ladies’s occasion within the space because the 2004 U.S. Open in South Hadley, Mass.
It is a lengthy overdue return for the handful of gamers within the discipline who’ve native ties to the realm.
Megan Khang headlines that group. The Brockton, Mass., native grew up going to PGA Tour tournaments at TPC Boston, and he or she has been the face of this new event. She represented the gamers at a media day press convention in July, and she was readily available Tuesday night time to throw out the ceremonial first pitch forward of the Purple Sox-Blue Jays sport at Fenway Park.
Story continues under commercial
Listed here are the opposite native gamers becoming a member of Khang on this week’s discipline.
Alexa Pano: The Foxboro, Mass., native is coming off possibly her most spectacular efficiency as knowledgeable, ending tied for tenth place final week within the AIG Girls’s Open on the Outdated Course at St. Andrews. Pano, who was featured within the 2013 documentary “The Quick Sport,” has an inventory of sponsors headlined by one very acquainted model: the New England Patriots. Native followers will probably flock to the 20-year-old who wears the Patriots’ brand on the course.
“The group is all the time supporting me,” Pano mentioned throughout a Tuesday press convention at TPC Boston. “They textual content me after a variety of occasions and are all the time type of watching how I am doing. I am very fortunate to have a sponsor that cares about me the best way they do. They simply need me to do the very best I can and that is a fantastic factor and I am very blessed to have that.”
Xiyu Lin: The 2024 Olympic silver medalist hails from China, and like a variety of skilled golfers, spends a variety of time in Florida. Nonetheless, her fiancé, Barney Wang, lives and works in Boston. She now considers herself a giant Boston sports activities fan, too.
Story continues under commercial
“(When LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux informed) us we have been engaged on on a event in Boston space, we have been all each excited,” she mentioned Tuesday. “I heard that we use to have a event right here very long time in the past, and I am simply glad we will convey it again. Boston has such good sports activities followers, after which they (are) all the time very supportive.”
Alison Walshe: The 39-year-old is taking part in on a sponsor invite this week. The Westford, Mass., native turned professional in 2009 after 4 seasons at Arizona the place she was a three-time All-American. The most effective season of her profession got here in 2013 when she made 18 of 24 cuts to complete 53rd on the LPGA cash record, a 12 months after posting a top-10 end on the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
“It is a dream come true,” Walshe mentioned Tuesday. ” … I like how nice the crowds are right here and the way passionate persons are about golf. Simply going to be a giant displaying for the tour usually, and taking part in in entrance of family and friends goes to be a variety of enjoyable.”
Extra FM CHampionship
How TPC Boston Will Take a look at LPGA Stars In Inaugural FM Championship
4 Min Learn
LPGA Star Can’t Wait To Present Off New England In Tour’s Return
4 Min Learn
Sophia Popov can also be within the discipline this week. The 2020 AIG Girls’s Open champion was born in Framingham, Mass., the place she spent the primary few years of her life. She moved to Germany at a younger age, however she returned yearly to go to household and pals. Her household has a home on Nantucket that her younger household, which incorporates her husband and caddie, Max Mehles, go to typically.
Story continues under commercial
There’s additionally a neighborhood flare to one of many week’s extra fascinating tales. Dover, N.H., highschool star Carys Fennessy will make her skilled debut after getting in by a Mass Golf invitational qualifier.
For followers who cannot make it to TPC Boston to start out the weekend, ESPN+ will stream featured teams on Thursday and Friday. Khang and Pano will each be prominently featured within the Friday morning wave in separate star-studded groupings.
