The LPGA Tour resumes next weekend with the stopgap Drive-On Championship. Having charted various territories in its short timeline, the event will halt in Arizona this year. The host, Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Grand Canyon, has been home to many LPGA tournaments. But apart from its memorable moments on the course, it is also known for its wild animal sightings.

LPGA Tour handle recalls animal sighting in Arizona

The location of the golf club is set in the beautiful region of Gold Canyon in Arizona, which is home to a number of wild animals. Thus, the vast course, spread across 800 acres, attracts an animal or two, which is a common sighting on the field.

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The LPGA Tour gave a glimpse of the experience after posting a throwback video of a previous event in the state. In the brief clip, an animal is seen walking behind a golfer on the fairway, which stunned the commentators.

One of the hosts seemed convinced that she saw a bobcat running on the fairway, while others weren’t too sure about its identity. Another host even quipped that the animal was a leopard, but he was immediately shunned by his fellow commentators.

But was the animal a bobcat or a leopard? Make a guess by watching the clip yourself.

Similar to the hosts, fans debated amongst themselves to find the identity of the animal. A user felt it was a lynx, tweeting, “Lynx on the links?” Another one expressed his fear, saying, “Javelina, Bobcats, Rattlesnake!!! Oh my! Where is the yellow brick road?” However, another netizen claimed that the spotting of an animal other than a crocodile was a relief. “Finally something different. Alligators are so mainstream,” he said.

Arizona’s rich history with the LPGA

Apart from its animal sightings, the wildlife-rich state has seen its fair share of glory on the LPGA Tour. Back on 16th March 2001, golf legend, Annika Sorenstam, became the only player to shoot a round of 59 on the LPGA Tour. On a crazy day, the LPGA ‘Hall of Famer’ birdied 12 of her first 13 holes to achieve what remains the lowest-ever score on the tour.

The state was also home to the first-ever Cognizant Founders Cup, which commenced to honor the Tour’s 13 founding members. It was the same tournament where South Korean golfer Sei Young Kim matched the all-time competition score set by Sorenstam, which she later broke in 2018.

The On-Drive Championship made its debut on the LPGA calendar in Ohio in 2020 following the tour’s pandemic-induced break. Since then, the event has moved places, including Georgia, Florida, and this year, Arizona.

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