Australia will have its strongest representation in tournament history with nine Aussies to tee it up at The Chevron Championship starting Thursday night in Texas.

Led by major champions Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, the nine Aussies in the field betters the previous mark by two, achieved in 2003, 2004 and 2019.

Six Aussies played at The Club at Carlton Woods 12 months ago, those numbers bolstered by Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed graduating to the LPGA Tour in 2024 and Queenslander Robyn Choi returning after a single season back in 2019.

A two-time major winner, Lee has been paired with defending champion Lilia Vu and current world No.1 Nelly Korda for the first two rounds in what is the marquee group of the opening two days.

Pictured with Stephanie Kyriacou, Grace Kim and Sarah Kemp after her win at the HSBC Women’s World Championship last month, Green tees off at the same time as her fellow West Australian at 4.10am AEST alongside Pajaree Anannarukarn and Hye-Jin Choi.

Ruffels first played The Chevron – known then as the ANA Inspiration – back in 2020 as an amateur, where she was tied for 15th on debut.

Still just 23 years of age, Ruffels has finished top-25 in her two starts in the event since turning professional, her last appearance a tie for 25th in 2022.

Fellow LPGA Tour rookie Hira Naveed makes her major championship debut on the back of her runner-up finish at the Ford Championship two weeks ago, a result that saw her climb 542 spots to 106th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.

Round 1 tee times AEST

LPGA Tour
The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
11:10pm          Grace Kim, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist
11:32pm          Robyn Choi, Jin Hee Im, Hinako Shibuno
11:43pm*         Maria Fassi, Hira Naveed, Megan Schofill (a)
4:10am            Pajaree Anannarukarn, Hye-Jin Choi, Hannah Green
4:10am*           Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu
4:32am            Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Stephanie Kyriacou, Polly Mack
4:32am*           Gabriela Ruffels, Madelene Sagstrom, Lottie Woad (a)
4:43am            Perrine Delacour, Sarah Kemp, Miyu Yamashita
4:54am            Aditi Ashok, Karis Davidson, Danielle Kang

Round 2

11:10pm          Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu
11:10pm*         Pajaree Anannarukarn, Hye-Jin Choi, Hannah Green
11:32pm          Gabriela Ruffels, Madelene Sagstrom, Lottie Woad (a)
11:32pm*         Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Stephanie Kyriacou, Polly Mack
11:43pm*         Perrine Delacour, Sarah Kemp, Miyu Yamashita
11:54pm*         Aditi Ashok, Karis Davidson, Danielle Kang
4:10am*           Grace Kim, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist
4:32am*           Robyn Choi, Jin Hee Im, Hinako Shibuno
4:43am            Maria Fassi, Hira Naveed, Megan Schofill (a)

Defending champion: Lilia Vu
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2000, 2006)
Prize money: $US7.9 million
TV times: Live 12:30am-4am Friday, Saturday; Live 4am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

Ladies European Tour
Joburg Ladies Open
Modderfontein Golf Club, South Africa
7:20pm*          Emily Price, Jane Turner, Amy Walsh

Defending champion: Lily May Humphreys
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
TV times: Live 9:30pm-12am Saturday; Live 9pm-12am Sunday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.

Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images