The Chevron Championship 2024 First Round Leader Tips: Four to go low on Thursday

Our golf tipster Jamie Worsley has already published his Chevron Championship Betting Tips (click to read if you missed it) in his full preview earlier in the week, where he's picked out five players at good each-way prices to win the first women's major of the year. Now, he's focused on the opening round on Thursday where he has given us four more picks, with his Chevron Championship First Round Leader Tips.

The first round of the Chevron Championship on Thursday marks the start of the women’s majors for 2024 and with potentially challenging conditions in that opening round, it looks like one half of the field will hold the advantage on day one.

The conditions are forecast to be very calm early doors, with nothing but a mere 6mph breeze. However, just as the earliest starters finish and the afternoon players begin, the wind is predicted to increase in strength, with gusts of around 22mph possible for those later starters, as well as the potential for the odd rainy spell or thunderstorm.

This should hand the advantage to those who tee-off in the morning and I have four first-round leader selections from that section of the draw.

1.25 pts Brooke Henderson each-way (1/4, 5 places) – (First-Round Leader) @ 40/1

Start time: 08:21

First up is Brooke Henderson, who performed well here last year with a top 25 finish; shooting a second-round 67 that would’ve been enough to share the first-round lead. Again playing well this season and ranking inside the top 20 in round one scoring, she looks a likely contender to be leading after Thursday’s opening round.

Henderson hasn’t missed a cut yet this season, where her excellent ball-striking game has helped record four top-10 finishes and a worst result of 27^th; ranking 3^rd in greens-in-regulation and 13^th off-the-tee.

She’s been starting swiftly, ranking 18^th in round one scoring, possessing a cumulative score of -12 across those first rounds; sitting 6^th after the opening round of the Tournament of Champions, 3^rd after round one of the Honda LPGA Thailand and 7^th after eighteen holes of the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.

If able to put it all together tomorrow, Henderson can begin her search for a third major title in the best possible way.

1.25 pts Sei Young Kim each-way (1/4, 5 places) – (First-Round Leader) @ 40/1

Start time: 07:59

Sei Young Kim also shot a second round 67 in this event last year on her way to a 52^nd-place finish. She managed that whilst enjoying nowhere as strong a period of form as she does currently and as one of the best round one scorers so far this season, it would be a surprise to see her not start well tomorrow.

Kim had a tricky 2023 but has been in excellent form at the beginning of this year. She hasn’t finished outside the top 20 in any of her six starts and has twice finished 3^rd; in the Honda LPGA Thailand and last time out she lost in the semi-finals of the T-Mobile Match Play.

She’s combining quality ball-striking – ranking 14^th in GIR, 26^th OTT and 31^st in approach – with excellence on the greens, ranking 15^th in putting. Skills which have often been well on show in the opening round, with her ranking 4^th in round one scoring this year.

Kim has only failed to open with an under par round once in her six starts in 2024, recording first-round positions of 4^th in the Drive On Championship, 2^nd in the Honda LPGA Thailand and she led after round one of the T-Mobile Match Play.

Take away her 5-over-par start to the HSBC Women’s World Championship and she has shot an outstanding combined -22 in her other five first rounds this year, something she can add to this week.

1 pt A Lim Kim each-way (1/4, 5 places) – (First-Round Leader) @ 70/1

Start time: 07:26

A Lim Kim’s 7-under-par 65 in last year’s renewal of this event was the joint-best score of that entire week, helping her on the way to a top-5 finish. After initially being a little slow to get going this year, she produced her best result of the year two starts ago and looks to have found form at the right time for our first major of the year.

Kim’s 22^nd-place finish in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship was her second top 25 of the year after finishing 23^rd in the LPGA Drive on Championship at the beginning. It was a performance that was engineered by her best approach and putting performances of the year, ranking 15^th and 20^th in the respective areas. Combine with this big-hitter’s usual strength lying with the driver and she has plenty going for her this week.

The Korean hasn’t been starting especially quickly this year, however on her last start in the Ford Championship she did produce just her second under par first round score of the year, shooting -2. She can lean on that, as well as her superb 65 here last year to record her best first round score of the season on Thursday.

0.75 pts Yealimi Noh each-way (1/4, 5 places) – (First-Round Leader) @ 110/1

Start time: 07:26

Finally, the talented Yealimi Noh has been showing much more positive signs since the latter part of last year. As a quality, lengthy driver who finally found her feet on the greens last time out, and who ranks top 20 in round one scoring, she has the potential to start fast this week.

After a largely dismal year, Noh discovered some form at the end of 2023, recording her first top 10 of the entire year on her second-last start in the Arkansas Championship, finishing 8^th.

She has carried that over into this year, making each of three cuts in her limited starts so far, recording a top 25 in the Drive On Championship and was 35^th last time out in the Ford Championship.

The driving force behind her better performances has been, well, the driver. She ranks 10^th OTT this season and at 11^th in driving distance she has the power to take it to this monster layout. In addition to that, she ranked 18^th on the greens in the Ford Championship – her best putting display of the year – and is 18^th in round one scoring, having opened with two under par rounds out of three.

I was tempted to take her as a longshot outright, such is her talent but felt that was probably beyond her as she’s still in the process of finding her very best. However at a big price, she’s more than worth a shot to be leading after the opening round.

You can find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub.