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Players know they have to go low to be a factor
at Columbia Edgewater, where Andrea Lee won with a score of 19
under two years ago and birdies come in bunches at the
6,480-yard track. Before a two-year spell that saw the
tournament reduced to 54 holes in 2021 due to weather and in
2020 due to wildfires, Hannah Green won the event at 21 under in
2019.
Wannasaen returns to Portland as a two-time winner on tour,
having claimed the Dana Open title earlier this month. She said
the win here last year to secure her LPGA Tour card for two
additional seasons has allowed her to play stress-free.
"Life after I won is changed because, like, mindset is change,
everything is change," Wannasaen said Tuesday. "This year I can
like play better than last year because I won in here.
"I can play without the pressure, like I can play, like enjoy
the golf game. And so I think I can control my mind, control
stress better than last year."
Lee also returns to Portland this week, as does 2017 champion
Stacy Lewis.
However, Wannasaen will be joined by only one other winner on
tour this year, Lauren Coughlin, who is coming off her maiden
victory at the CKPC Women's Open last week. Meanwhile, 20 of the
26 rookies on tour have made the trip to Portland seeking
critical points in the Race to the CME Globe standings.
The $1.75 million event begins Thursday, with $262,500 going to
the winner.
In it's 52nd year, the Portland Classic is the longest-running
event on the LPGA Tour outside of the majors. It began in 1972
as the Portland Ladies Classic, and expanded to a 72-hole event
in 2013.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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