ANA Inspiration kicks off, literally
The first major LGPA golf championship for the season had a kickoff event in Rancho Mirage on Tuesday.
The ANA Inspiration LPGA Golf Championship literally kicked off with a spirited Footgolf game between American and Japanese golfers.
Paula Creamer and Jessica Korda joined American soccer legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy in representing the USA in the inaugural ANA FootGolf Faceoff. The American team competed in a six-hole match against Japanese National Team legends Ayumi Kaihori and Yayao Kobayashi, Ayako Uehara of the LPGA.
FootGolf is a hybrid sport where soccer meets golf and is played with a regulation soccer ball on shortened golf holes with 21-inch diameter cups cut into the greens.
The Japanese team came away with the win.
“I played soccer in college so to see the two sports combined was pretty fun,” said Donna Kirscht of Rancho Mirage.
But the real winners of the golfing festivities are the fans and local businesses cashing in on the crowds.
“I think they have done a great job this year of really getting the word out about the ANA Inspiration. I know last year the crowds weren’t as big maybe as they would have liked but this year I’m hoping that get some really big crowds,” Mary Beth Tarrant a LPGA fan from Palm Springs.
We will have continuing coverage of the ANA Inspiration throughout the week.
