This post is sponsored by the 2024 Mizuho Americas Open, which welcomes all NJMOMs and their families to Liberty National Golf Course in May.
Want to introduce your kids to some inspiring role models while watching top women golfers compete? Take them to the Mizuho Americas Open on May 15-19, 2024, at the scenic Liberty National Golf Course with sweeping views of the Hudson River and New York City, where the best golfers from around the globe will be vying for a $3 million purse. And in a groundbreaking format, 120 Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) stars will be playing alongside 24 top-ranked junior girls from the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) hosted by LPGA icon and Major Champion Michelle Wie West. Scroll down for more to know about this incredible experience where you and your family can witness world-class golf and take a closer look at 17-year-old Megan Meng, one of the game’s rising stars who will get to play alongside her idols. (featured photo credit: LPGA)
The Mizuho Americas Open will feature Michelle Wie West (center) as the 2024 ambassador and tournament host. Photo Credit: LPGA
An inspiring format
This tournament’s groundbreaking format of current LPGA stars playing alongside top-ranked junior girls on the AJGA Tour is a way for young players to be inspired and learn from their icons. LPGA icon and Major Champion Michelle Wie West will also be there, serving as an ambassador and tournament host for Mizuho Americas’ and a role model to the young players. Also in the spotlight will be Megan Meng of Pennington, NJ, one of the AJGA players getting to play alongside top players. Meng started playing golf at 6 years old, competed in junior tournaments, and is a 2-time Rolex Junior All-American and a 2023 Scholastic Junior All-American. This fall, she is headed to Northwestern University, where she will play D1 on the Women’s Golf Team. For her, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is something she’s always dreamed about. “This event is a special chance to meet the professional golfers I have grown up idolizing and admiring. I am incredibly grateful to be playing at such an iconic venue and on a worldwide stage,” Meng says. Meng’s mom is thrilled that she will be a part of this newly formatted event, too. “Similar to everything else in life, people who have been there and have done that can always offer valuable perspectives and insights to help upcomers navigate the journey,” she adds.
Megan Meng, a top-ranked junior from the American Junior Golf Association, at the 2023 – Rolex Girls Junior Championship. Photo Credit: LPGA
Inspiration for junior players
What stands out at the Mizuho Americas competition is the support of young players. And it’s one of the aspects Meng is especially excited about since icons like Michelle Wie and Annika Sörenstam will be there. “I’ve been watching Michelle play on TV ever since I was a little girl and have always looked up to her as an Asian American girl who played the sport and wanted to be just like her. The same goes for Annika in the sense that both have done so much to encourage and support the future of girls golf,” she says. It’s also a springboard for gleaning expert tips and more opportunities in the future. “I hope just to soak it all in and learn as much as possible. I heard from AJGA players and friends last year that it was one of the most special events they have ever played.”
Supporting female golfers
Mizuho Americas, a leading corporate and investment bank in the Americas, is the founding partner for the tournament, along with Girls Inc., which inspires all girls—particularly girls from low-income communities and girls of color—with the knowledge and skills to effect positive changes in their lives and to become leaders who will change the world. The goals of the non-profit and its participation in the tournament have resonated with Meng. “I hope other girls and women will see this event and feel inspired to pick up a golf club or get the chance to support female sports,” she adds.
The 18 Fairway at Liberty National Golf Club is ready for the event. Photo Credit: Liberty National Golf Club
About Liberty National Golf Course
With sweeping Hudson River views, the Liberty National Golf Course is as gorgeous as it is competitive, with the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline along each hole. This is the second year they have hosted the LPGA, and the 18-hole championship course has also previously hosted PGA TOUR Playoff events and the 2017 Presidents Cup. “This experience feels especially near and dear to my heart because, being in my home state, I have so much pride for the venue and the chance for people to see the event,” Meng says.
What to know before you go
The 2024 Mizuho Americas Open will take place from May 13-19, 2024, at Liberty National Golf Club. Tickets for the Pro-Am are open to the public starting May 15. The 1st-3rd rounds take place on May 16-18, concluding with the final round on May 19. General admission tickets are $35 for the day or $125 for the weekly pass. The Garden State Terrace ticket is $130 daily and $475 for the weekly pass. Clubhouse tickets are $500 and $2,000 for the weekly pass. All children (17 & under) receive complimentary daily grounds admission with a ticketed adult. The gates are closed to the public 30 minutes after the final putt drop, so check ahead for the times. General parking is at Liberty State Park – Lot 8, in the Statue of Liberty Ferry parking lot. A ferry from the Brookfield Place Terminal in Downtown Manhattan will also be available, which will take you directly to the Liberty National Golf Club.
About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive. Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders, and game-changers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone. Follow the LPGA on its US television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com, and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
