Jersey City, N.J. - Eight of the top-10 golfers in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, including world Nos. 1, and 2, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, will headline the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open from June 1 to 4 at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City.
"We are excited to welcome the best players in the world to Liberty National in a few weeks for the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open," said Caila Roberts, Tournament Director at Excel Sports Management. "Mizuho has set the tone for this event to be a game-changer for how LPGA players should be taken care of, and we are proud that this lineup of corporate partners is joining together to celebrate and support the LPGA and AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) players."
Michelle Wie West to Serve as Tournament Host
LPGA icon Michelle Wie West will serve as the Tournament Host and Mizuho Americas Brand Ambassador.
Wie West, who turned pro a week before her 16th birthday in 2005, won five events during her career on the LPGA Tour, including one major at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open. Additionally, in 2009, Wie West was only the second LPGA Tour rookie to qualify for The Solheim Cup--the women's equivalent of The Ryder Cup--and, as the youngest golfer on the team, led team USA with a 3-0-1 record.
Wie West retired from competitive golf in 2022.
Mizuho Americas Open to Concurrently Host AJCA Invitational
Along with some of the best professional golfers in the world, Liberty National will also host 24 of the top-26 junior golfers in the Rolex AJGA Girls Rankings during an AJGA Invitational which will run concurrently with the Mizuho Americas Open. This unique, and first-of-its-kind, format will allow for some top junior golfers to compete alongside, and possibly learn from, some of the top professional golfers.
"When I announced earlier this year (2022) that I was retiring from competitive golf, my goal was to continue living by the LPGA mantra, 'Act Like a Founder,' and to leave the game better than I found it," Wie West said in a press release from 2022. "We will be able to do just that and impact future generations of the game. I am so proud to host this groundbreaking event and to work with a company that sees the value in supporting women's golf."
Included in the junior tournament will be New Jersey's Katie Li. A high school senior, Duke commit, and Basking Ridge native, Li is currently the top junior in New Jersey and checks in at No. 8 nationally.
Players to Receive Complimentary Lodging During Tournament
Along with the tournament's $2.75 million purse, which is one of the largest of the non-major tournaments, Mizuho Americas announced, in March, that the full field of 120 LPGA players would receive complimentary lodging in New York City, and daily ferry service that will shuttle players directly to the clubhouse, during the duration of the Mizuho Americas Open.
"Our commitment to cover player lodging reinforces that our support of this event goes beyond the the golf course," said Shuji Matsuura, Chairman and CEO of Mizuho Americas in a press release in March. "While hosting these world-class athletes on the LPGA tour is a privilege, elevating the overall experience for each player is a priority, and we are excited to provide this service to all participants."
The Course
The Mizuho Americas Open will be the first time Liberty National Golf Club has hosted an LPGA tournament. However, while the course has never hosted an LPGA event, Liberty National has hosted multiple PGA tournaments. Liberty National hosted the first stop of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2009, 2013, 2019, and 2021, along with hosting the 2017 President's Cup.
How to Follow
Tickets for the Mizuho Americas Open are available at mizuhoamericasopen.com/tickets/ and start at $35 for general admission which provides grounds access for any day Wednesday through Sunday. Veterans, first responders, active military, and Juniors 17 and under receive free general admission tickets.
Updates for the tournament can also be found by following @MizuhoLPGA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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