The LPGA season kicks off next week with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, and World No. 1 Lilia Vu headlines the field. It marks the first time that Vu has been eligible for the field given that she won her first career title last February at the Honda LPGA Thailand and went on to win three more times, including two majors.
The season-opener takes place Jan. 18-21 at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida. LPGA winners from the past two seasons are invited to compete for a $1.5 million purse while a field of celebrities vie for $500,000.
Once again, Lake Nona resident Annika Sorenstam will compete in the celebrity field along with NBC’s Dylan Dreyer, U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Landon Donovan, eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, country music star Chris Lane and World Series Champion John Smoltz.
While Vu and No. 2 Ruoning Yin begin their 2024 seasons next week, six players inside the top 10 of the Rolex Rankings are skipping the first event. For many international players, the lure of a longer offseason outweighs the perks of the TOC.
While there are two events in Florida to start the season in 2024, with the LPGA Drive On event in Bradenton the following week, the tour then has three weeks off before beginning the spring Asian swing in Thailand.
Here’s a look at which top players are in the field for this year’s TOC and which ones are sitting out:
IN: 1. Lilia Vu
Lilia Vu gets champagne poured on her after winning The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2023, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
IN: No. 2 Ruoning Yin
Ruoning Yin tees off on the 4th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
OUT: 3. Celine Boutier
Celine Boutier of France tees off on the 8th hole during the second round of the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on October 27, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
OUT: 4. Minjee Lee
Australia’s Minjee Lee is sprayed with champagne by Australia’s Hannah Green (L) as she celebrates her victory at the end of the BMW Ladies Championship golf tournament at Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju on October 22, 2023. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
IN: No. 5 Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda of the United States looks on from the second tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 17, 2023, in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
OUT: No. 6 Jin Young Ko
Jin Young Ko imitates a selfie as she poses with the winner’s trophy after a playoff win against Minjee Lee at the 2023 Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey. (Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
OUT: No. 7 Hyo Joo Kim
THE COLONY, TEXAS – OCTOBER 07: Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea looks on from the first tee during the third round of The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club on October 07, 2023 in The Colony, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
IN: No. 8 Charley Hull
Charley Hull watches her tee shot on the fouirth hole during the final round of the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship in at Kenwood Country Club in Ohio. (Photo: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
OUT: No. 9 Atthaya Thitikul
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand smiles on the 11th tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 17, 2023, in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
OUT: No. 10 Xiyu Lin
Xiyu Janet Lin chips onto the 6th green during the first round of the 2022 CME Group Tour Championship at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo: Chris Tilley/Palm Beach Post)
IN: No. 11 Lydia Ko
Lydia Ko of New Zealand in action during the Pro Am event prior to the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath Golf Club on August 09, 2023 in Tadworth, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
IN: No. 12 Allisen Corpuz
Allisen Corpuz celebrates with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 09, 2023, in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
IN: No. 13 Brooke Henderson
Brooke M. Henderson of Canada tees off on the 13th hole during the Second Round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 28, 2023, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
IN: No. 14 Megan Khang
Megan Khang plays her shot from the eighth tee during the final round of the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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