GILBERT, Ariz. — While she might be new to the LPGA Tour this season, Epson Tour alum Hira Naveed played like anything but a newbie in the inaugural edition of the Ford Championship presented by KCC.
She opened her week at Seville Golf and Country Club with a bogey-free, 4-under 68 on Thursday and then made the cut on the number after a Friday 71, a vast improvement from a missed cut in her first start as a 2024 LPGA Tour rookie last week at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship.
And with nothing to lose over the weekend in Gilbert, Ariz., the Australian went low, carding a 7-under 65 on Moving Day to vault from T64 to T16 after the third round and then firing a 6-under 66 on Sunday to ultimately finish solo second in her second event of the year, posting a four-day total of 18-under to sit two shots behind eventual champion Nelly Korda.
But while she was a touch disappointed to not be hoisting a trophy on the 18th green at the end of the final round, Naveed was more than grateful for the experience she had on a rainy final day in the desert, particularly as this week’s Ford Championship was just her fourth ever start on the LPGA Tour.
“The first couple of days got enough going to make the cut, and then it was a little worrisome there after the second round, but glad to make it through,” said Naveed. “There is great golf out there, great players out there, so I was just trying to do my best and score as best as I can. (Nelly is) an amazing player. To share the stage with her is really an honor. Yeah, it was a great day. Just fell short, but, again, it's an experience, so we move on.”
Naveed has spent the last four seasons competing on the Epson Tour, making $102,362 in career earnings and recording eight top-10 finishes since she joined the organization in 2020. The 26-year-old secured LPGA Tour status via 2023 LPGA Q-Series, finishing 15th in Lower Alabama to become an LPGA Tour rookie for the 2024 season.
Like most players who utilize the Epson Tour as their pathway to the biggest stage in women’s golf, Naveed gives the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA a lot of credit for her success as a professional golfer and feels like it has readied her for the big moment, preparation that definitely showed in her runner-up finish on Sunday at the Ford Championship.
“I put myself in some positions last year (on the Epson Tour) where I was in the final groups, and it's great experience,” said Naveed. “The Epson Tour is full of so much talent, and they're just that one step away from the LPGA.”
With the LPGA Tour season well underway and with the year’s first major on deck in just three weeks’ time, Naveed is looking forward to what the momentum she generated this week at the Ford Championship will do for her as 2024 rolls on and as she works to make an early impact on the LPGA Tour.
“It's an experience for me. It's only my second tournament of the year, so just try to enjoy it as best as I can,” said Naveed of her final-round mindset. “My caddie was trying to keep me calm all day. It's a great experience to compete against the best players in the world.
“It's just the beginning. It just started. Just put my head down and keep at it as best as I can and see what happens.”
It's getting interesting here at the #FordChampionship 👀
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 31, 2024
Naveed birdie putts for the co-lead ‼️ pic.twitter.com/0SAysfPtDd
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