JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro: The stars of the LPGA Tour head to Hollywood

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

The LPGA Tour returns to the City of Angels for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

LPGA Tour goes to Hollywood! The tenth event of the LPGA Tour’s 2024 schedule is being played in California, not San Jose, but back in Los Angeles. 144 golfers are going to war this week not too far from the waves of the West Coast for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro.

Just one week on from the first Major Championship of the season, this week has been taken as a relax period for some of the world’s best golfers – maybe they’ll take a trip to Disneyland! However, some golfers will be hoping to bounce back with a bang and lift the trophy come Sunday to experience maximum joy.

In 2023, the inaugural JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro was played after taking over from the Palos Verdes Championship that was played just once in 2022. Wilshire Country Club hosts the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and it hosted the LA Open from 2018 to 2022.

Who is playing in the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro?

Being the first tournament after the opening Major Championship of the season there are a couple of the best players in the world missing from this week’s field. Most notable is World No.1, Nelly Korda, who announced on Monday that she won’t be competing this week. World No.2, Lilia Vu also isn’t playing this week as she continues struggling with a back injury that forced her to withdraw from The Chevron Championship before her tee time on Thursday.

The highest-ranked player in the field this week is World No.3 Celine Boutier. There are six players currently occupying the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking teeing it up this week. The other two golfers from the top 10 not playing this week are Brooke Henderson, who finished third at The Chevron Championship, and Lydia Ko who remains one win away from entering the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Hannah Green is hoping to defend her title this week after winning the inaugural JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro in 2023. Of the 144 players competing this week in Los Angeles four of them have won around Wilshire Country Club – Moriya Jutanugarn (2018), Minjee Lee (2019), Nasa Hataoka (2022), and Hannah Green (2023).

What is the format of the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro?

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 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro being played?

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro is being played at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, California. This is only the second year this tournament is being played on the LPGA Tour and it returns to the same course it was played at in its inaugural event. The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro replaced the Palos Verdes Championship that was played just once in 2022 at Palos Verdes Golf Club which hosted the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship earlier this season.

The course at Wilshire Country Club hosted the LA Open from 2018 to 2022, but it’s now reserved for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro. In 1919, the 18-hole championship golf course opened after being designed by Norman Macbeth. In 2008, Kyle Phillips was invited to make necessary alterations to the golf course in order to recapture its original design.

The golf course at Wilshire Country Club measures 6,258 yards for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and it’s played as a par 71.

Who will win the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro?

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro has been blown wide open following the announcement made by Nelly Korda that she won’t be playing this week. The American has won her last five consecutive tournaments. The World No.1 has the opportunity to break the record for the most consecutive victories on the LPGA Tour. However, the dominant force has decided to give the rest of the field a chance of winning this week and the most in-form golfer on the planet will be back for the Cognizant Founders Cup to attempt to break the record.

With Nelly Korda not playing this week, the betting is incredibly competitive, but the early favorite with the bookmakers is Sei Young Kim. Based on last week’s performance at The Chevron Championship, Maja Stark has to be considered after her second-place finish and Carlota Ciganda is enjoying a fine run of form.

Selected odds (correct at 11 am GMT on Apr 23, 2024)

Sei Young Kim 16/1

Ayaka Furue 18/1

Jin Young Ko 18/1

Minjee Lee 20/1

Ruoning Yin 22/1

Rose Zhang 25/1

Patty Tavatanakit 28/1

Carlota Ciganda 28/1

Hannah Green 30/1

Charley Hull 33/1

Celine Boutier 40/1

Maja Stark 45/1

Lauren Coughlin 75/1

How much does the winner of the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro get?

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro is the first non-major of the season to have a purse north of $2,250,000. There is $3,000,000 up for grabs this week in the City of Angels – a larger purse than what’s on offer at the ISPS Handa Championship.

The purse for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro hasn’t been given an increase this year as part of the LPGA Tour’s 2024 record-breaking schedule, but when it was added to the calendar last year – as a replacement for the Palos Verdes Championship – it had a 100% larger purse than the Palos Verdes Championship had in 2022.

The purse standing at $3,000,000 means the winner will be awarded the same amount as last year’s winner, Hannah Green. It’s not too surprising to see the purse hasn’t increased given this is only the second year the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro features on the LPGA Tour’s schedule. This week’s winner will take home $450,000 – a figure not to be scoffed at but it’s still a fraction of the winner’s share available at the Zurich Classic and LIV Golf Adelaide.

How to watch the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports

All times GMT

Thursday, April 125: Not available to watch

Friday, April 26: Not available to watch

Saturday, April 27: Sky Sports Golf, 23.00

Sunday, April 28: Sky Sports Golf, 23.00

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel

All times EST

Thursday, April 25: Golf Channel, 18.30

Friday, April 26: Golf Channel, 18.30

Saturday, April 27: Golf Channel, 18.00

Sunday, April 28: Golf Channel, 18.00

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro Tee Times

Tee time information for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro 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.