T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards: The only Match Play event on the 2024 LPGA Tour schedule

LPGA Tour: T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards

Sin City plays host to the eighth event on the 2024 LPGA Tour calendar

Viva Las Vegas! The LPGA Tour is visiting its fourth of fifteen states this week as the best players in the world tee it up in Nevada for the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards.

Being a Match Play tournament, this week provides the players with a slightly different format compared to what they’re used to. For some, this will be a pleasant break from the standard 72-hole stroke play events. However, others might have preferred a typical event in preparation for The Chevron Championship.

This week is the last chance some of the players have of qualifying for The Chevron Championship – the first Major of the season – in Houston, Texas. The outcome of this event will determine the final field for The Chevron Championship.

The T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards was previously named the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play. This is the fourth year this event has been played on the LPGA Tour. However, the format has been altered for this year’s competition.

Who is playing in the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards?

Once again, there’s a stacked field playing this week in Las Vegas. Reigning champion, Pajaree Anannarukarn, will be hoping to defend her title around Shadow Creek Golf Club. However, perhaps the biggest danger in the field is Nelly Korda, who has won her last three starts, becoming the first player on the LPGA Tour to achieve this feat since Nacy Lopez did in 1978.

The World No.1 will be looking to continue her phenomenal form heading into the first Major of the season. However, there are 95 other competitors this week looking to spoil the party and deny Korda a four-timer. Two of those are past winners of this event – Ally Ewing and Eun-Hee Ji.

Over half of the top 50 golfers in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including Minjee Lee, Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, and Hyo Joo Kim who all join Nelly Korda in the field as the only players from the top 10 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings playing in Las Vegas. Lilia Vu has decided to miss this week. The two-time Major champion will be taking some time off before going to Houston to defend The Chevron Championship.

What is the format of the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards?

The T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards differs slightly from other events on the calendar being that it is a Match Play event. However, Match Play isn’t the only format being played this week.

There are 96 players teeing off on Wednesday (not Thursday), and they’ll all compete in stroke play. After 36 holes there’ll be a cut which sees the top 65 players and ties advance. The stroke play portion of the competition continues on Friday, after 54 holes have been played the field is cut once again, with only the top eight making it through to the weekend.

Only when we reach the weekend does the Match Play action begin. The lucky eight golfers who make it through to the weekend will play their quarterfinal matches on Saturday morning, and the four winners of those matches will play the semifinals on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday the Championship Match will be played to determine the winner.

If you’re fortunate enough to make it all the way through to the Championship Match you could potentially have played six full rounds of golf (108 holes)!

Where is the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards being played?

The T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards is being played at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. This has been the venue for the LPGA Tour Match Play event since it was added to the calendar in 2021.

The course was designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio. The 18-hole championship golf course has extremely unique and distinctive characteristics that aren’t often seen in the desert. See where Shadow Creek Golf Club ranks among the best golf courses in America.

The golf course at Shadow Creek Golf Club measures 6,804 yards for the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards and it’s played as a par 72.

Who will win the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards?

With it being such a competitive field playing in Nevada, you would have thought it would be difficult to pick a clear favorite. However, the bookmakers have Nelly Korda down as the clear favorite – hardly surprising considering her current run of form.

The bookmakers had the betting correct last week when Korda was a clear favorite. Could we be in for the same outcome this week and could the Amercian become a 12-time LPG Tour winner? I wouldn’t be so quick to award the honors that easily. There is a whole host of golfers chomping at the bit, bidding to win for the first time or add to their resumés. With it being a slightly different format you’re going to need your best game for five whole days.

Selected odds (correct at 12 pm GMT on Apr 3, 2024)

Nelly Korda 7/1

Ayaka Furue 18/1

Lydia Ko 20/1

Hyo Joo Kim 20/1

Brooke Henderson 22/1

Minjee Lee 25/1

Celine Boutier 25/1

Rose Zhang 30/1

Linn Grant 33/1

Leona Maguire 33/1

Carlota Ciganda 33/1

Maja Stark 50/1

Ally Ewing 50/1

Pajaree Anannarukarn 100/1

How much does the winner of the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards get?

The T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards is one of several events on the LPGA Tour’s 2024 record-breaking schedule to have been awarded a purse increase. There is $2,000,000 up for grabs this week in Sin City. This is a 33.33% increase from the three previous years which had a purse of $1,500,000.

The purse growth also means the winner will be awarded a larger cheque than previously seen in this event. In recent years the victor has received $225,000. However, in 2024 the winner will be paid $300,000 for claiming the title. A fraction of the prize money on offer at the Valero Texas Open and LIV Golf Miami.

How to watch the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards

UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf

All times GMT

Wednesday, April 3: Not available to watch

Thursday, April 4: Not available to watch

Friday, April 5: Not available to watch

Saturday, April 6: Sky Sports Golf, 23.00

Sunday, April 7: Sky Sports Golf, 23.00

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel and Peacock

All times EST

Wednesday, April 3: The Golf Channel, 18.00

Thursday, April 4: The Golf Channel, 18.00

Friday, April 5: The Golf Channel, 17.00

Saturday, April 6: Peacock, 13.30

Sunday, April 7: The Golf Channel, 18.00

T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards Tee Times

Tee time information for the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards 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.