x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
LPGA rookie opens massive 54-hole lead at ANA Inspiration
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
      • Emergency 9
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • Emergency 9
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
News

LPGA rookie opens massive 54-hole lead at ANA Inspiration

By: Zephyr Melton
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
April 3, 2021
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
patty tavatanakit reads putt

Patty Tavatanakit is in total control of her game at Mission Hills. The result is a five-stroke 54-hole lead at the year's first major.

Getty Images

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Patty Tavatanakit is in total control of her game, and Mission Hills Country Club is no match.

The rookie has never won an LPGA event in her short career — much less a major championship — but the way she’s playing, you’d swear she’s a seasoned vet. Tavatanakit has seldom missed a shot this week at the ANA Inspiration. Her scorecard tells all you need to know.

Tavatanakit has played 54 holes. She’s bogeyed just four of them. Two of those came in Round 3 as the 21-year-old battled intense heat and blustery winds. It didn’t matter. She built a lead from one coming into Saturday to five by day’s end.

“She’s an amazing player,” Shenshen Feng said of her playing partner. “I actually learned a lot from her … [But] it was hard to keep up with her.”

If she can replicate that success tomorrow, an ice-cold plunge into Poppie’s Pond awaits.

Someone will make the plunge into Poppie’s Pond in less than 24 hours … and it won’t be me (probably) pic.twitter.com/L7wqIt9cB5

— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) April 4, 2021

“It’s a great day,” Tavatanakit said after her round. “[But] it’s in the past now. All I can think about is what can I do tomorrow, what can I improve from today’s round? I was getting a little tired at the end. What can I do to keep my energy level up throughout the day tomorrow? That’s going to be my goal.”

Throughout most of the third round, Tavatanakit was unflappable. She began with three straight birdies and added another at the 9th. She etched three more circles on her card by No. 15 to open her lead to six. Then, fatigue set in.

News
brooke henderson swings
‘It’s like being in contention:’ Inside the battle to make the cut at a major championship
By: Zephyr Melton

Tavatanakit pulled her approach into the bunker on the par-3 17th leading to a bogey and then hit an uncharacteristically poor wedge that came up short of the island-green 18th. But like Fred Couples at the ’92 Masters, the ball just stayed on the bank. Tavatanakit saved par to sign for 67 and keep her lead at five over Ally Ewing and 2020 ANA champion Mirim Lee.

The former UCLA Bruin has plenty of experience sleeping on large leads. At the mouthful of an event that is the Symetra Tour’s Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in July 2019, Tavatanakit also had a five-stroke lead heading into the final round. She took the title the next day by seven.

Also — unlikely as it may sound — this isn’t even the largest lead Tavatanakit has held at this course. She remembers an event here in her junior days when she was the frontrunner by 10(!) in the desert, which she went on to win.

But this is different — this is a major championship. Everything is bigger at the ANA. The stakes. The history. And the nerves.

Instruction
lexi thompson waves
Inside Lexi Thompson’s warmup routine at the ANA Inspiration
By: Zephyr Melton

A five-shot advantage is no guarantee. At the last major of 2020, A Lim Kim lagged five shots behind Hinako Shibuno’s 54-hole lead. Less than a day later, Kim was a major champion.

“[I’ve got to] keep pedaling,” Tavatanakit said. “It’s not over yet. Anyone could do something incredible tomorrow. Everyone has the capability to go out there and shoot low scores. You can’t get ahead of yourself there. There’s a lot of golf left.”

Now, Tavatanakit heads home to sleep on a 54-hole lead. It’s a familiar position, but it also couldn’t feel more foreign.

Poppie’s Pond awaits.

Check out the Pro Shop

GOLF Rainbow

GOLF Rainbow “GOLF” Hat

$30
View Product

“Azalea” Golf Tee – LIMITED-EDITION

View Product
Nicklaus x Jones Golf Shoe Bag: Limited Edition

Nicklaus x Jones Golf Shoe Bag: Limited Editi…

$70
View Product

Latest In News

3 hours ago

Viktor Hovland lost the U.S. Open but left with something he needed

4 hours ago

2025 Travelers Championship: TV schedule, streaming info, tee times

5 hours ago

2025 Travelers Championship odds: Scottie Scheffler betting favorite in Connecticut

7 hours ago

'That's ridiculous': Controversial ruling derailed U.S. Open leader

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Brooks Koepka Bryson DeChambeau

Tour Confidential: Bryson v. Brooks, LPGA shakeup, Tiger Woods

By: GOLF Editors
Instruction
patty tavatanakit holds trophy

Inside Patty Tavatanakit's warm-up routine at the ANA Inspiration

By: Zephyr Melton
News
lydia ko swings

Lydia Ko didn't win the ANA Inspiration, but her run at history was electrifying

By: Zephyr Melton
News
Patty Tavatanakit pumps her fist.

Patty Tavatanakit holds off surging Lydia Ko to win ANA Inspiration, first major title

By: Josh Berhow
News
Patty Tavatanakit at ANA Inspiration

2021 ANA Inspiration live coverage: How to watch Sunday's final round at the first LPGA major of the year

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
patty tavatanakit siwngs

3 things to know about Round 2 at the ANA Inspiration

By: Zephyr Melton
News
brooke henderson swings

'It’s like being in contention:' Inside the battle to make the cut at a major championship

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
lexi thompson waves

Inside Lexi Thompson's warmup routine at the ANA Inspiration

By: Zephyr Melton
News
patty takanavit

3 things to know after Round 1 at the ANA Inspiration

By: Zephyr Melton
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version