Mizuho Americas Open: Rose Zhang bids to defend her title and win back-to-back in New Jersey

Mizuho Americas Open: Rose Zhang bids to defend her title and win back-to-back in New Jersey

The LPGA Tour is traveling 20 miles southeast for the Mizuho Americas Open played in Jersey City

For the second week in a row, the LPGA Tour is hosting an event in New Jersey. Last week’s event, the Cognizant Founders Cup, was played at Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, New Jersey. This week the players are making the shortest journey between events on the 2024 calendar to Jersey City, to play the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Course.

The Mizuho Americas Open was an inaugural event on the LPGA Tour last season. The 2023 Champion, Rose Zhang, won on her debut on the LPGA Tour becoming the first member to do so since Beverley Hanson in 1951.

Major Champion and four-time LPGA Tour winner, Michelle Wie West hosts the Mizuho Americas Open. This is one of three events on the LPGA Tours record-breaking 2024 schedule to be hosted by a Major Champion. The other two being the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship hosted by Seri Pak and the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican hosted by Annika Sorenstam.

New Jersey is hosting three LPGA Tour events this season, the Mizuho Americas Open is the second tournament being played in the Garden State before the players head 150 miles west to Lancaster Country Club, Pennsylvania, for the US Women’s Open presented by Ally. One week later, the LPGA Tour returns to New Jersey for the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer which is being played at Seaview, Bay Course.

Only one US state will have had more tournaments played on its soil than New Jersey come the end of the season, and that’s Florida, which is hosting four LPGA Tour events.

Who is playing in the Mizuho Americas Open?

The Mizuho Americas Open has attracted a strong field and it should make for brilliant viewing, so while you’re watching the US PGA Championship this week, be sure to keep one eye on the Mizuho Americas Open.

Defending champion, Rose Zhang is returning to a happy hunting ground in the hope of retaining her crown at the Mizuo Americas Open. However, I imagine this week we’ll see more challengers than just the one last week in Clifton. Second place finisher at the Cognizant Founders Cup, Madelene Sagstrom is lining up this week – could she make it to the top spot in Jersey City?

Nelly Korda’s dominance on the LPGA Tour ended last week courtesy of Rose Zhang but the World No.1 is in the field once again this week bidding for her sixth LPGA Tour title this season and who’s to say she won’t achieve it?

Charley Hull is returning to America following a strong performance in the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Korea event where she finished in solo second place behind home hero Hyo Joo Kim, who isn’t playing this week in the Mizuho Americas Open.

Hyo Joo Kim is one of only 14 golfers in the top 50 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not teeing it up this week in New Jersey. Another one of those 14 names is Lilia Vu, the current World No.2 is still recovering from a back injury that forced her to withdraw from The Chevron Championship.

What is the format of the Mizuho Americas Open?

It is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds) that sees the leading 65 players and ties make the final two rounds. The player who achieves the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.

Where is the Mizuho Americas Open being played?

The Mizuho Americas Open is being played at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, New Jersey. Liberty National sits on the west bank of the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan in the background.

Liberty National Golf Course opened on Independence Day in 2006, designed by renowned golf course architects Tom Kite and Bob Cupp. The 18-hole championship golf course demands precise shots off the tee in order to attack the greens and get close to the pin placements.

The golf course at Liberty National measures 6,656 yards for the Mizuho Americas Open and it’s played as a par 71 this year – one stroke less than last year’s par of 72.

Who will win the Mizuho Americas Open?

World No.1, Nelly Korda, was unable to win a record-breaking sixth consecutive event on the LPGA Tour last week in Clifton, New Jersey, but I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see her resume winning ways this week in Jersey City – she’s the current favorite with the bookmakers.

The second favorite this week is defending champion, Rose Zhang, who stormed to victory last week at Upper Montclair Country Club to win her second LPGA Tour title. Having won here last year on her LPGA Tour debut and coming off the back of a commanding victory last week it’s easy to see why there is support for the American to perform well this week.

The only player last week to come close to Rose Zhang was Madelene Sagstrom, the Swede was extremely unfortunate given the fact that she ended the week 13 shots better than third place but still two shots off Zhang after 72 holes. Sagstrom played well in this event last year finishing in a tie for thirteenth – expect her to play well again at Liberty National.

Selected odds (correct at 2 pm GMT on May 13, 2024)

Nelly Korda 11/2

Rose Zhang 16/1

Hae Ran Ryu 20/1

Brooke Henderson 20/1

Atthaya Thitikul 20/1

Jin Young Ko 20/1

Charley Hull 25/1

Madelene Sagstrom 25/1

Minjee Lee 28/1

Ayaka Furue 28/1

Leona Maguire 28/1

Hannah Green 33/1

Jennifer Kupcho 50/1

Maja Stark 50/1

Ashleigh Buhai 125/1

Eun-Hee Ji 250/1

How much does the winner of the Mizuho Americas Open get?

The LPGA Tour announced that another record-breaking season was in store for 2024. As a result, the Mizuho Americas Open was awarded a purse increase from last year. Last year’s purse stood at a respectable $2,750,000. However, this year the Mizuho Americas Open is one of 16 events on the LPGA Tour to have a purse of at least $3,000,000 up for grabs.

The purse for the 2024 Mizuho Americas Open stands at $3,000,000, meaning this year’s champion will receive $450,000 for their efforts – $37,500 more than Rose Zhang was awarded last year for first place.

How to watch the Mizuho Americas Open

UK viewers will be unable to watch the action this week

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel

All times EST

Thursday, May 16: Golf Channel, 15.00

Friday, May 17: Golf Channel, 15.00

Saturday, May 18: Golf Channel, 15.00

Sunday, May 19: Golf Channel, 15.00

The Mizuho Americas Open Tee Times

Tee time information for the Mizuho Americas Open can be viewed here.

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About the author

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.