Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit will defend her title in front of fans at The Chevron Championship, taking place March 31 – April 3, 2022 at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.
Tavatanakit won her first Major in spectacular fashion last year with a final round four-under 68, securing her wire-to-wire victory on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. She finished at 18 under par, two shots clear of former winner, Lydia Ko, who shot a championship record equalling final round of 62 as she fought to reclaim her title.
Tavatanakit, who won the NCAAs twice while representing UCLA, looked very much at home as she calmly held off the star-studded chasing pack to secure the biggest win of her career.
The first rookie to win the event since Juli Inkster in 1984, Tavatanakit commented, “It will be my first time defending any LPGA title, let alone a Major title, so it’s a week I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I’m so thrilled to represent this historic tournament as defending Champion, and to be back in a place that means so much to me. We’re so glad to have the fans coming back this year, too! In my experience, the fans that come cheer us on at Mission Hills are some of the best in the game, and we’re all looking forward to playing for them again. I hope it will be loud on 18!”
The 22-year-old continued, “It is going to be a big year – not just for me but for everyone involved in the event. It will be our first year welcoming our amazing new title sponsor Chevron and also, our last time playing this event at Mission Hills. This is one of the best tests of golf on our schedule, and we’re all hoping to be the one to take this last jump into Poppie’s Pond!”
Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 28 for The Chevron Championship, the first golf Major of 2022 after a Covid imposed two-year hiatus. All details and ticket options available can be found at www.thechevronchampionship.com.
Championship Director Alyssa Randolph commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to welcome spectators back this year. While we have felt their loyal support and commitment through TV and social channels over the last couple of years, there is nothing that can match having our fans here on site with us. We have really missed them and know they will be particularly excited to celebrate Patty and Mirim Lee, whose victories came while they weren’t able to spectate live. This is going to be a huge year for the Championship; welcoming a long-term new title sponsor in Chevron, our world-class field enjoying the support of our fans once again and, of course, celebrating an amazing 51 years of partnering with Rancho Mirage with our final edition here at Mission Hills.”
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. was identified in October last year as the new title sponsor of The Chevron Championship (formerly the ANA Inspiration) through a six-year relationship with the LPGA. As part of the sponsorship, Chevron has increased the prize fund for the 2022 Championship by over 60% to $5 million. ANA, who supported the tournament for seven editions, will continue as a partner in 2022.
