The ANNIKA 2025 Betting Tips: Five picks for Florida

The LPGA returns to Florida for the first of back-to-back events that will bring the 2025 season to a close.

Tiburon Golf Club is the destination for next week’s finale, where the top 60 players in the Race to CME Globe will tee it up in the CME Group Tour Championship, playing for that lucrative $4million prize.

First, we head to Pelican Golf Club for The ANNIKA – an event that offers players a final opportunity to break into that top 60, while those hovering around or outside the top 100 battle to secure their LPGA cards for the 2026 season.

Our LPGA golf expert Jamie Worsley is in hot form at the moment and is back with his usual comprehensive preview for the tournament. Check out his The ANNIKA Betting Tips below, where he has picked out five players ranging from 25/1 to 90/1.

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You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest The ANNIKA odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The ANNIKA was initially called the Pelican Women's Championship and was first held in 2020. Every edition has been staged at Pelican Golf Club.

Sei Young Kim was our first champion, but the event has been dominated by Nelly Korda since, winning three of the last four renewals, in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Tournament winners:

• 2024

Winner: Nelly Korda (-14)

Runners-up: Charley Hull, Jin Hee Im, Weiwei Zhang (-11)

• 2023

Winner: Lilia Vu (-19)

Runners-up: Alison Lee, Azahara Munoz (-16)

• 2022

Winner: Nelly Korda (-14)

Runner-up: Lexi Thompson (-13)

• 2021

Winner: Nelly Korda (-17, playoff)

Runners-up: Sei Young Kim, Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson (-17)

• 2020

Winner: Sei Young Kim (-14)

Runner-up: Ally Ewing (-11)

* 2022 edition played over 54 holes

Nelly's victory last year was her most emphatic, beating the trio of Charley Hull, Jin Hee Im, and Weiwei Zhang by three shots. She returns to defend this week, still chasing her first win of 2025.

THE COURSE

Designed in 1925, Pelican Golf Club celebrated its 100-year anniversary this year. It was created by Donald Ross but underwent an extensive renovation at the hands of Beau Welling in 2018, who took inspiration from the original Ross design.

This par-70 course measures 6349 yards and possesses 4x par 3s (143-191 yards), 12x par 4s (312-428 yards), and 2x par 5s (495-529 yards). It has provided a solid test since debuting in 2020, averaging a winning score of -16 across the four 72-hole editions.

Although built on much flatter ground, this attractive layout has been described as a tribute to Augusta National. Pine straw lines the majority of the loosely tree-lined holes, and they are framed by large, steep-faced, white sand bunkers. Meanwhile, water creates a sense of risk/reward throughout, coming into play on 10 holes.

The rolling fairways are wide and though the rough delivers little punishment for wayward drives, they are strategically protected by those imposing bunkers.

That said, it's on and around the greens where the biggest challenge awaits at Pelican Golf Club. These large, crowned bermudagrass putting surfaces are predominantly elevated, and could play as fast as 12.5 on the Stimpmeter this week. Many are narrow/shallow in shape; abound with run-off areas, and with well-placed bunkers adjacent to devilish pin positions, they can be tricky to attack if firm.

Pelican Golf Club features plenty of birdie chances. Three of the par 4s will be almost drivable over the course of the week, and each par 5 is reachable in two for most, though they are guarded by water.

However, this is countered by several holes where par is a good score, including four par 4s that measures over 420 yards. This highlights the exciting, varied test that awaits the field.

THE WEATHER

The forecast for this week's event is a pleasant one, with bright and warm weather predicted throughout. Temperatures are predicted to exceed 22°C each day and with just a 7mph breeze to contend with, players can have few complaints about conditions.

KEY STATS

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Distance

Quality with the driver has been a decisive factor in previous editions here, and it is striking how many of the main contenders have possessed power off the tee.

Nelly Korda has driven the ball superbly in each of her last two victories, ranking 4^th in SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) and 6^th in driving distance in 2024, and 1^st in SG: OTT and 6^th in driving distance in 2022.

Four of her six nearest challengers last year ranked inside the top 20 in SG: OTT, including Linn Grant, who finished 5^th overall and ranked 2^nd in this category, while four also placed inside the top 15 in driving distance. Meanwhile, Lexi Thompson was a close runner-up in 2022 and ranked 8^th in SG: OTT and 4^th in driving distance.

Lilia Vu didn't quite drive it to that level when she won in 2023, but she was a solid 14^th in SG: OTT. Three of the top four ranked inside the top 25 in this area, and Alison Lee, who finished 2^nd, ranked 10^th in driving distance.

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation

These expansive greens are difficult to find, with numerous challenging pin positions, making precise iron play another crucial factor.

Nelly Korda hasn't been especially dialled in with her irons for either victory, but she did rank 2^nd in greens-in-regulation (GIR) last year and 1^st in 2022. Runner-up Jin Hee Im hit them strongly last year, ranking 3^rd in SG: Approach and 4^th in GIR, while 2022 3^rd-place finisher Allisen Corpuz ranked 2^nd in SG: Approach and 7^th in GIR.

Lilia Vu ranked 2^nd in GIR in 2023, and she was also 5^th in SG: Approach. This was a year in which each of the top four ranked inside the top eight in SG: Approach.

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass)
• Par 4 Scoring

Few players have managed to contend at Pelican Golf Club without a strong week on the greens. Indeed, Nelly Korda ranked 5^th in SG: Putting last year and 4^th in 2022, while Lilia Vu ranked 7^th in 2023.

Furthermore, with 12 par 4s on the course, it's on these holes where the tournament will be won and lost.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

CME Group Tour Championship (Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course)

The Gold Course at Tiburon Golf Club is another flat Floridian venue with wide fairways and large bermudagrass greens. Big hitters regularly go well there, and steep-faced bunkers are one of the primary defences.

Notable correlating form:

Sei Young Kim:

The ANNIKA (1^st, 2^nd) / Tour Championship (1^st, 2^nd)

Nelly Korda:

The ANNIKA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st) / Tour Championship (2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th)

Lilia Vu:

The ANNIKA (1^st) / Tour Championship (4^th)

Lydia Ko:

The ANNIKA (2^nd, 4^th) / Tour Championship (1^st, 1^st)

Lexi Thompson:

The ANNIKA (2^nd, 2^nd) / Tour Championship (1^st, 2^nd)

Charley Hull:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / Tour Championship (2^nd)

Alison Lee:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / Tour Championship (2^nd)

Amy Yang:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / Tour Championship (1^st)

Hannah Green:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / Tour Championship (2^nd)

Brooke Henderson:

The ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th) / Tour Championship (5^th)

Megan Khang:

The ANNIKA (7^th, 8^th) / Tour Championship (5^th)

2025 Founders Cup & 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship (Bradenton Country Club)

It's worth staying in Florida with Bradenton Country Club – another Donald Ross original. The flat, firm fairways are wide and protected by strategic bunkering, while the bermudagrass greens are quick and similar in style to this week's host.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

The ANNIKA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st) / Bradenton (1^st)

Lydia Ko:

The ANNIKA (2^nd, 4^th) / Bradenton (2^nd)

Jin Hee Im:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / Bradenton (4^th)

Hannah Green:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / Bradenton (4^th)

Megan Khang:

The ANNIKA (7^th, 8^th) / Bradenton (3^rd, 3^rd)

Minami Katsu:

The ANNIKA (7^th) / Bradenton (7^th)

HSBC Women's World Championship (Sentosa Golf Club – Tanjong Course)

Sentosa Golf Club's Tanjong Course is longer than Pelican Golf Club, but it does share several characteristics. Its fairways are generous, the speedy bermudagrass greens rank as the largest on tour, and water is a constant threat.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

The ANNIKA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st) / HSBC (2^nd, 2^nd)

Azahara Munoz:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / HSBC (3^rd)

Charley Hull:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / HSBC (4^th)

Jin Hee Im:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / HSBC (4^th)

Allisen Corpuz:

The ANNIKA (3^rd) / HSBC (3^rd)

Hannah Green:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / HSBC (1^st, 2^nd)

Gaby Lopez:

The ANNIKA (4^th, 6^th) / HSBC (4^th, 7^th)

Brooke Henderson:

The ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th) / HSBC (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th)

Patty Tavatanakit:

The ANNIKA (6^th) / HSBC (3^rd)

Chevron Championship (The Club at Carlton Woods – Nicklaus Course)

Much like our previous venue, the Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods is significantly lengthier than this week's host. However, as a flat course with generous fairways, large and fast bermudagrass greens, and lots of water in play, it can still provide clues.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

The ANNIKA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st) / Chevron (1^st, 3^rd)

Lilia Vu:

The ANNIKA (1^st) / Chevron (1^st)

Jin Hee Im:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / Chevron (8^th)

Allisen Corpuz:

The ANNIKA (3^rd) / Chevron (4^th)

Amy Yang:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / Chevron (4^th)

Brooke Henderson:

The ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th) / Chevron (3^rd)

Portland Classic (Columbia Edgewater Country Club)

Last up is Portland Classic host Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Although it is situated on the opposite side of the country, this gently-rolling tree-lined course, with its wide fairways, speedy greens, and elements of risk/reward, is worth checking out this week.

Notable correlating form:

Lilia Vu:

The ANNIKA (1^st) / Portland (3^rd)

Weiwei Zhang:

The ANNIKA (2^nd) / Portland (10^th)

Hannah Green:

The ANNIKA (4^th) / Portland (1^st, 3^rd)

Brooke Henderson:

The ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th) / Portland (1^st, 1^st)

Linn Grant:

The ANNIKA (5^th) / Portland (3^rd, 7^th)

Aditi Ashok:

The ANNIKA (6^th) / Portland (6^th)

Megan Khang:

The ANNIKA (7^th, 8^th) / Portland (5^th, 6^th)

THE FIELD

Defending champion Nelly Korda is the top-ranked player in the field at No.2, and one of five from inside the top 10, alongside Miyu Yamashita (No.3), Charley Hull (No. 6), Mao Saigo (No. 9), and Lottie Woad (No.10).

Three-time winner Korda is one of just two former winners in attendance, joined by 2023 champion Lilia Vu.

Keeping a close eye on that important top-60 threshold in the Race to CME Globe, Jenny Shin (No. 58), Wei-ling Hsu (No. 59), Cassie Porter (No. 60), Saki Baba (No. 61), Brooke Matthews (No. 62), and Ina Yoon (No. 63) are the main players to watch in terms of getting into next week's season-ending event.

Meanwhile, it is set to be an even nervier week for those ranked around 100^th position, with Aline Krauter (No. 97), Pornanong Phatlum (No. 99), Alexa Pano (No. 100), Soo Bin Joo (No. 101), and Hinako Shibuno (No. 104) the players most at risk of losing full status on the tour.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders: Nelly Korda 13/2, Miyu Yamashita 9/1, Charley Hull 12/1, Hye Jin Choi 12/1, Lottie Woad 14/1, A Lim Kim 22/1

1.75 pts Hannah Green each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 25/1

Hannah Green found her stride in East Asia, signing off that five-week stretch with finishes of 5^th in the BMW Ladies Championship and 2^nd in the Maybank Championship. She's gone well here before, finishing 4^th in 2022, and in ownership of some of the most eye-catching comp form in the field, she looks primed to find a late win in 2025.

Green was in top form at the beginning of the year, recording top-10 finishes of 4^th in the Founders Cup, 7^th in the HSBC Women's World Championship, and 9^th in the JM Eagle LA Championship across her first five appearances. She struggled after that, picking up just one top-20 over her next 11 starts, but she turned it around in Korea, finishing 5^th and then lost out in a playoff to Miyu Yamashita in Malaysia.

Her long game has been regressive in 2025, but she has shown positive signs in approach in those two recent top-five finishes, ranking 11^th in Korea and 32^nd in Malaysia. The putter remains an asset, ranking 32^nd for the season, and sitting 24^th in par 4 scoring, she ticks many boxes statistically.

Green finished 46^th on her debut at Pelican Golf Club in 2020, getting better with each round. She returned to finish 4^th the following year, and as a winner of the HSBC Women's World Championship and Portland Classic, as well as possessing finishes of 2^nd in the CME Group Tour Championship and 4^th at Bradenton Country Club, she's a strong fit for this setup.

1.25 pts Linn Grant each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

With placings of 5^th and 15^th in two visits, Linn Grant has a great record in this event. She has been slightly disappointing in 2025 but played solidly in Asia, and as a strong driver who excels on the par 4s, she makes plenty of sense in Florida.

Grant began the season with a 3^rd-place finish at the Tournament of Champions in Florida. She has been inconsistent since, picking up three further top-10 finishes when 4^th in the Riviera Maya Open, 9^th in the U.S. Women’s Open, and she was 3^rd in the Portland Classic five appearances ago.

She teed it up twice in Asia, finishing 31^st in the BMW Ladies Championship then 27^th in the Maybank Championship. Her tee-to-green game looked in great shape during each event, ranking 18^th in Korea and 7^th in Malaysia.

That is an area in which she ranks 14^th season-long, with the driver rating as her biggest weapon, ranking 3^rd in SG: OTT and 22^nd in driving distance. She’s also 24^th in par 4 scoring and 28^th in GIR – displaying a skillset that works well at Pelican Golf Club.

Although Grant is enduring a tough time on the greens, she has putted well on both starts at this course, ranking 14^th last year and 20^th in 2023, helping her to respective 5th and 15^th-place finishes. She’s also finished 3^rd and 7^th in the Portland Classic, emphasising her suitability to this type of layout.

1 pt Jennifer Kupcho each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 50/1

Jennifer Kupcho has a game that should translate well to Pelican Golf Club, though as yet she’s failed to contend. Her game has been in consistently great shape since she won the Shoprite LPGA Classic in June, and she can sign out the year in style with a win in Florida.

Kupcho took some time getting going this season, but she’s looked like a different player following that win in the Shoprite Classic – her fourth on the LPGA. She’s claimed five top-25s in nine starts since, which includes a second top-10 of the season when 5^th in the Kroger Queen City Championship on her fourth-last outing.

The American has been at her best with the driver, ranking 16^th in SG: OTT and 18^th in driving distance this season. She also ranks 22^nd in GIR and is producing some of her strongest approach play of the year at present, ranking 4^th, 15^th, and 20^th on her last three starts.

With additional rankings of 14^th in par 4 scoring and 32^nd in SG: Putting, Kupcho is an ideal candidate for this test, and I expect her to improve on her underwhelming form figures of 58-22-31-MC here this week.

1 pt Carlota Ciganda each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 55/1

Carlota Ciganda ended her nine-year wait for a third LPGA victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. She was largely disappointing on the tour following that but found something in Asia, and having performed strongly here in the past, she can keep it going back on U.S. soil.

Ciganda was in electric form at the beginning of the year and had collected four top-10 finishes in her six starts prior to winning the Meijer Classic. She failed to hit the top 70 in her five subsequent LPGA appearances, though shone in the Aramco Series Houston on the Ladies European Tour, finishing 2^nd.

The Spaniard then returned from a five-week break to finish 15^th in the Buick LPGA Shanghai three starts ago. After a less impressive effort at the BMW Ladies Championship, she bounced back with a 16^th-place finish at the Maybank Championship on her latest start.

She’s been strong from tee-to-green in 2025, ranking 30^th and has gained strokes in each of those areas. Meanwhile, her ranking of 28^th in driving distance matches up nicely with many contenders here.

Ciganda’s again struggled with the putter this season, but she’s produced positive numbers on the greens in each of her three visits here – resulting in finishes of 14^th last year, 51^st in 2023, and 13^th in 2022. She’s also finished 2^nd in the Tour Championship, 3^rd in Portland, and with several top-10s across the Chevron Championship and HSBC Women’s World Championship, this is a course that clearly suits her game.

0.75 pts Maja Stark each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 80/1

Earning her breakthrough major title in the U.S. Women’s Open, 2025 is a year Maja Stark is sure to look back on fondly. Her performances stuttered following that win, but there’s been promise on her last two starts, and having finished inside the top 10 on debut here, she can carry that momentum into our penultimate tournament of the season.

Stark missed five of her next seven cuts after the win at Erin Hills and failed to hit the top 40 on her other two appearances. She returned to form two starts ago in the Kroger Queen City Championship, shooting four under-par rounds to finish 5^th, and she maintained this improved play when we last saw her in the BMW Ladies Championship, finishing 24^th.

The driver has been her main asset by far, ranking 21^st in SG: OTT and she’s a handy 56^th in driving distance. In addition, her putting has been of a higher standard recently, ranking 2^nd two starts ago on her way to that 5^th-place finish in the Kroger Queen City Championship.

Stark finished 10^th on her first outing at Pelican Golf Club in 2022, where a second-round 63 was the second-best round of the week. She’s added further rounds of 66 and 67 on her next two visits despite missing the cut, and with a 2^nd-place finish at Carlton Woods to her name, I’m confident that she’s capable of a career-high result at this week’s venue.

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