Golf: Ko among star trio chasing first US Open title

Lydia Ko tees off in the first round at the Women's PGA Championship in June. Photo / AP

Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson are high quality golfers who regularly hit the heights on the LPGA Tour.

They have started a combined 16 US Opens but none has claimed the title as the event heads for this week's start at the CordeValle Golf Club in California. Ko says the 6752 yard layout reminds her of courses back home.

"When you go to places where you know it's not home, but it feels a bit like home, it makes a big difference," she said. "You feel more comfortable. You're not trying to adjust all the time to the climate or those certain things That's why I really love the west coast."

Ko's best finish in four US Open outings is 12th, fellow teenager Henderson has had a best finish of 5th in her three attempts while Thompson has twin top 10 finishes in nine Open starts.

Ko has won two majors and lost a playoff to Henderson in the recent PGA Championship before winning the Arkansas Championship last week with a record 17 under par tournament score.

In other groupings the in-form Ariya Jutanugarn tees it up alongside Minjee Lee and defending champion In Gee Chun who won in her first appearance is paired with Stacy Lewis, who was runner-up in 2014 amongst her three top three finishes.

Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak won the 1998 title and is teeing it up for the 19th and final time alongside Korean countrywomen So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi.