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Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko headline star-studded field at The Annika, where military and first responders get in free

Nelly Korda of smiles at practice ahead of the 2024 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Nelly Korda of smiles at practice ahead of the 2024 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

World No. 1 Nelly Korda, a two-time champion at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, has committed to playing in the upcoming event alongside defending champion Lilia Vu, currently ranked second, and Lydia Ko, the hottest player in the world. Recent champions Ruoning Yin and Hannah Green, who've both won multiple events in 2024, round out the top 5 players coming to the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

The LPGA's penultimate event of the season will take place Nov. 11-17, and the field will vie for a purse of $3.25 million, one of the largest on tour. Eight of the top 10 players in the world have committed to the field. With WNBA star Caitlin Clark playing in the pro-am alongside Sorenstam and Korda, it's likely to be a blockbuster affair.

BELLEAIR, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: (R to L) Annika Sorenstam of Sweden presents the trophy to Lilia Vu of the United States on the 18th green after The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2023 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
BELLEAIR, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: (R to L) Annika Sorenstam of Sweden presents the trophy to Lilia Vu of the United States on the 18th green after The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2023 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Pelican Golf Club reopened for play last Wednesday, one week after Hurricane Milton left much of the course flooded. The tournament announced on Monday that all military personnel (active, reserve, retired and veterans) and a plus-one will receive complimentary access to the championship, including access to a special exclusive hospitality venue – the Hero Outpost presented by FedData – overlooking the tournament’s signature par-3 12th hole.

Additionally, all first responders and one guest will receive free tickets to the 2024 championship. First responders will have access to an exclusive hospitality venue, the First Responders Outpost presented by Servepro, located on the par-4 16th green.

Children 17 and under also will be admitted free with a paid adult.

This will be the fifth edition of The Annika, which serves as the cutoff for finalizing status for the 2025 season as well as the field for the lucrative CME Group Tour Championship.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko headline star-studded field at The Annika, where military and first responders get in free