Sorry for the long delay in my updating of my August 2011 Best of the LPGA ranking. I've been waiting for Hound Dog to come out with his final 2011 Top 70, but I'll just have to go with his latest one (from September 2011) in finally putting mine together. In what follows, I'll be combining HD's ranking with Tony Jesselli's 2011 Player of the Year ranking, the 2011 LPGA money list, and the most recent Rolex Rankings (which assigns points based on results over the previous 104 weeks on the LPGA, JLPGA, KLPGA, LET, and SymetraTour) and Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings (which ranks players based on relative finishes over the previous 52 weeks on the LPGA, JLPGA, LET, and SymetraTour). I'll be using these 5 very different systems to divide LPGA players into tiers, then using my own judgment to rank them within each tier. So here goes!
[Update 1 (2/12/12, 8:08 pm): Man, I forgot to include Thomas Atkins's final 2011 top 100 ranking! He puts Karrie Webb, Catriona Matthew, and Maria Hjorth much higher than I do. Given that I don't have time to redo mine in light of his, I'll be sure to include his in my "consensus top 30" ranking that I base the scoring for the 2011 LPGA Prognostication Derby on. When I finally get around to scoring it, that is!]
Last ranking, I admitted we're living in the Tseng Dynasty. This one, I'm admitting that Ya Ni is in a class of her own.
1. Ya Ni Tseng: #1 money ($2.92M), #1 RR (16.25), #1 GSPI (68.78), #1 HD, #1 TJ (357.48). More on exactly how dominant her 2011 was in a bit....
So who are Tseng's most dangerous rivals in her Imperial Court? Let's just say they're about as barely separated this year as the LPGA's super-elite were in 2010.
2. Suzann Pettersen: #5 money ($1.32M), #2 RR (9.32), #4 GSPI (69.68), #2 HD, #4 TJ (177.56). Hard to argue with her 2 wins in 2011.
3. Na Yeon Choi: #3 money ($1.36M), #3 RR (9.13), #3 GSPI (69.53), #6 HD, #5 TJ (159.28). I'm moving her up 6 spots from last ranking mostly on the strength of her win.
4. Stacy Lewis: #4 money ($1.36M), #10 RR (6.06), #6 GSPI (69.78), #3 HD, #2 TJ (203.86). Will this be her peak or will she keep rising?
5. Cristie Kerr: #2 money ($1.47M), #4 RR (8.94), #8 GSPI (69.95), #4 HD, #3 TJ (178.58). I've said it before and I'll say it again, she needs to start winning again to start closing the gap on the Empress!
6. Paula Creamer: #9 money ($926.3K), #5 RR (7.47), #2 GSPI (69.40), #8 HD, #8 TJ (141.46). I've said it before and I'll say it again, watch out for her once those putts start dropping!
7. Brittany Lincicome: #6 money ($1.15M), #9 RR (6.12), #7 GSPI (69.80), #5 HD, #10 TJ (129.82). Has she just begun to tap her true potential or was 2011 a career year?
It's hard to get onto the Imperial Court, but with top 10s in at least 3 of the 5 systems I'm tracking, a familiar name is the closest to returning there!
8. Ji-Yai Shin: #15 money ($720.7K), #7 RR (6.77), #5 GSPI (69.75), #10 HD, #17 TJ (99.40). She never won in 2011 but I wouldn't bet against her returning to the winner's circle in 2012.
With at most 2 top 10s in the 5 systems, these players need just a little more consistency in their excellence to join Tseng's lead chase pack, but they'll really need to get it going to make their way onto the Imperial Court.
9. In-Kyung Kim: #11 money ($886.0K), #8 RR (6.23), #11 GSPI (70.24), #12 HD, #6 TJ (151.92). Another great player who couldn't buy a win in 2011, but she was the most consistent among this tier of golfers.
10. Ai Miyazato: #8 money ($1.01M), #11 RR (5.97), #26 GSPI (70.86), #9 HD, #14 TJ (104.10). That win at Evian salvaged her season, but it didn't really kick-start the fantastic run I was hoping (and calling) for. Will she bounce back to the top of the game in 2012?
11. Amy Yang: #10 money ($912.2K), #12 RR (5.56), #19 GSPI (70.44), #14 HD, #9 TJ (136.50). I think she's ready to explode--in a good way!
12. Karrie Webb: #14 money ($757.7K), #19 RR (4.62), #20 GSPI (70.52), #7 HD, #13 TJ (116.24). Even with those 2 early wins, she falls down 7 spots based on the "what have you done for me lately?" theory.
13. Angela Stanford: #7 money ($1.02M), #17 RR (4.71), #17 GSPI (70.46), #11 HD, #7 TJ (144.62). Did everything but win in 2011.
14. Anna Nordqvist: #23 money ($589.8K), #30 RR (3.63), #9 GSPI (70.18), #21 HD, #16 TJ (100.18). Up 5 spots. Will she keep rising in 2012 or plateau?
Same goes for the players with top 20s in at least 3 of the 5 systems.
15. Morgan Pressel: #13 money ($845.5K), #16 RR (4.93), #18 GSPI (70.43), #13 HD, #12 TJ (122.04). She really had a good 2011; she just got passed by those playing slightly better than she was playing in the 2nd half of the year.
16. Catriona Matthew: #16 money ($692.3K), #20 RR (4.52), #12 GSPI (70.24), #18 HD, #20 TJ (86.10). Up 7 spots!
17. Maria Hjorth: #17 money ($630.3K), #22 RR (4.33), #16 GSPI (70.36), #15 HD, #15 TJ (103.66).
18. Mika Miyazato: #22 money ($591.7K), #24 RR (4.04), #15 GSPI (70.34), #16 HD, #11 TJ (128.30).
19. Michelle Wie: #18 money ($627.9K), #18 RR (4.68), #32 GSPI (71.19), #17 HD, #19 TJ (93.72).
The large number of players with at most 2 top 20s or at least 3 top 30s shows just how closely-packed the top players on the LPGA are.
20. Brittany Lang: #19 money ($627.7K), #33 RR (3.58), #21 GSPI (70.57), #22 HD, #18 TJ (94.46). Up another 4 spots. Definitely out of her slump!
21. Sandra Gal: #20 money ($623.5K), #40 RR (3.09), #30 GSPI (71.14), #23 HD, #22 TJ (77.66). Her ascent is slowing. Can she keep it going in 2012?
22. Inbee Park: #31 money ($365.2K), #23 RR (4.09), #33 GSPI (71.24), #19 HD, #24 TJ (72.72). How high would she have gone if she had played more on the LPGA in the 2nd half of the season?
23. Sun Young Yoo: #25 money ($476.7K), #44 RR (2.80), #37 GSPI (71.34), #26 HD, #21 TJ (82.36). She played solidly but not fantastically in 2011, which should give some indication of how good she is.
24. Hee Young Park: #12 money ($851.8K), #39 RR (3.15), #41 GSPI (71.51), #40 HD, #26 TJ (64.00). Her breakthrough win moves her up 17 spots!
25. Se Ri Pak: #27 money ($415.4K), #37 RR (3.28), #25 GSPI (70.84), #30 HD, #25 TJ (66.84). Good year for the Hall of Famer, but is she capable of putting together another great one again?
26. Meena Lee: #28 money ($408.1K), #57 RR (2.34), #40 GSPI (71.41), #25 HD, #27 TJ (62.44). Really good year for the underrated veteran!
27. Karen Stupples: #29 money ($397.1K), #61 RR (2.22), #29 GSPI (71.09), #29 HD, #33 TJ (46.94). Back where she belongs, but how long can this mum stay ahead of the LPGA's kids?
28. Shanshan Feng: #32 money ($362.1K), #13 RR (5.29), #22 GSPI (70.59), #32 HD, #38 TJ (38.48). Had a breakthrough year on the JLPGA, but I have to question why she didn't play more on the LPGA in the 2nd half of the season, as well as she was playing.
The large group with at most 2 top 30s or at least 3 top 40s is the product of loads of volatility, both positive and negative. Can those rising take their games to the next level?
29. Hee Kyung Seo: #21 money ($619.4K), #35 RR (3.39), #35 GSPI (71.29), #24 HD, #31 TJ (54.78). Her Rookie of the Year season wasn't anything to write home about by recent ROY standards, but I suspect she'll have a much better 2012.
30. Azahara Munoz: #24 money ($520.3K), #40 RR (3.22), #27 GSPI (70.90), #36 HD, #32 TJ (49.78). The 2010 ROY picked up the pace in the 2nd half of 2011. I think she'll keep it going in 2012.
31. Sophie Gustafson: #26 money ($427.6K), #48 RR (2.58), #38 GSPI (71.35), #31 HD, #29 TJ (61.12). Never count her out! She wasn't spectacular in 2011, but she was solid.
32. Song-Hee Kim: #33 money ($350.4K), #32 RR (3.59), #53 GSPI (71.73), #27 HD, #39 TJ (38.20). When will she work through the 2nd slump of her pro career?
33. Katie Futcher: #30 money ($373.6K), #67 RR (2.00), #63 GSPI (72.01), #43 HD, #23 TJ (76.40). Finally made that same quantum leap that Kristy McPherson made (before injuries slowed her down).
34. Chella Choi: #35 money ($325.3K), #71 RR (1.95), #42 GSPI (71.53), #35 HD, #34 TJ (45.52), #36 TA. In the running for biggest surprise of 2011.
35. Juli Inkster: #36 money ($298.1K), #58 RR (2.33), #88 GSPI (72.41), #38 HD, #30 TJ (58.79). Keeps on tickin', truckin', what have you!
36. Mindy Kim: #38 money ($262.1K), #83 RR (1.60), #83 GSPI (72.36), #34 HD, #35 TJ (41.50). Best. Season. Ever. Can she top it in 2012?
37. Caroline Hedwall: #64 money ($126.8K), #36 RR (3.32), #28 GSPI (71.04), #39 HD, #88 TJ (7.80). Up 13 spots. Can't wait to see what she does with a full schedule on the LPGA!
There's a good mix of youngsters and veterans making big moves to take at most 2 top 40s and/or at least 3 top 50s:
38. Momoko Ueda: #34 money ($333.5K), #51 RR (2.49), #68 GSPI (72.08), #49 HD, #44 TJ (25.42). Her Mizuno win bumps her up 14 spots.
39. Jimin Kang: #39 money ($255.9K), #62 RR (2.21), #55 GSPI (71.78), #42 HD, #58 TJ (17.46).
40. Candie Kung: #37 money ($287.6K), #82 RR (1.61), #58 GSPI (71.85), #45 HD, #37 TJ (39.82).
41. Tiffany Joh: #41 money ($237.7K), #86 RR (1.59), #75 GSPI (72.21), #33 HD, #61 TJ (16.40). Up 35 spots!
42. Amy Hung: #42 money ($226.6K), #94 RR (1.49), #78 GSPI (72.25), #47 HD, #48 TJ (23.84).
43. Christel Boeljon: #52 money ($170.6K), #46 RR (2.61), #36 GSPI (71.33), #51 HD, #42 TJ (28.36). Up 22 spots! (But partly an artifact of my doing this ranking right after she won in the 2012 LET season opener last week.)
44. Hee-Won Han: #40 money ($245.3K), #90 RR (1.56), #93 GSPI (72.49), #62 HD, #43 TJ (26.62). Up 34 spots!
45. Jennifer Johnson: #63 money ($129.0K), #167 RR (.86), #56 GSPI (71.81), #37 HD, #64 TJ (13.40). Up 25 spots! I'm curious to see what she can do with a full LPGA schedule in 2012.
46. Julieta Granada: #61 money ($137.2K), #121 RR (1.25), #102 GSPI (72.76), n.r. HD, #40 TJ (32.66). Is her long nightmare finally over?
An interesting mix of golfers have at most 2 top 50s and/or at least 3 top 60s. I'm curious to see who among them can arrest their falls or keep rising.
47. Beatriz Recari: #43 money ($223.1K), #74 RR (1.89), #72 GSPI (72.14), #41 HD, #53 TJ (19.56). Down 7 spots.
48. Pornanong Phatlum: #57 money ($149.7K), #96 RR (1.47), #49 GSPI (71.67), #44 HD, #55 TJ (18.24).
49. Jenny Shin: #55 money ($160.6K), #149 RR (1.01), #97 GSPI (72.66), #56 HD, #46 TJ (24.44). Debut!
50. Ryann O'Toole: #46 money ($192.7K), #118 RR (1.26), #111 GSPI (72.93), #52 HD, #41 TJ (30.14).
51. Paige Mackenzie: #47 money ($184.3K), #134 RR (1.11), #79 GSPI (72.30), #57 HD, #51 TJ (19.90). Down 7 spots.
52. Mina Harigae: #49 money ($178.7K), #115 RR (1.29), #91 GSPI (72.49), #59 HD, #60 TJ (16.62).
53. Stacy Prammanasudh: #59 money ($143.9K), #146 RR (1.03), #57 GSPI (71.81), #55 HD, #77 TJ (10.20). Down 10 spots.
54. Katherine Hull: #60 money ($137.9K), #54 RR (2.40), #120 GSPI (73.06), #53 HD, #66 TJ (12.84). Down 15.
55. Pat Hurst: #50 money ($177.3K), #128 RR (1.16), #116 GSPI (73.00), #66 HD, #49 TJ (23.36).
56. Vicky Hurst: #45 money ($201.4K), #93 RR (1.51), #98 GSPI (72.67), #58 HD, #63 TJ (14.36).
57. Wendy Ward: #44 money ($204.2K), #110 RR (1.34), #61 GSPI (72.00), #61 HD, #52 TJ (19.90).
58. Natalie Gulbis: #51 money ($176.3K), #123 RR (1.25), #62 GSPI (72.00), #50 HD, #72 TJ (10.98). Down 11 spots.
59. Kristy McPherson: #56 money ($157.0K), #101 RR (1.41), #71 GSPI (72.11), #46 HD, #106 TJ (2.72). Down 6.
60. Eun-Hee Ji: #48 money ($181.7), #111 RR (1.34), #52 GSPI (71.71), #48 HD, #118 TJ (1.24). Down 24. Probably the biggest flame-out among my long-shot picks in 2011.
A handful of golfers have at most 2 top 60s and/or at least 3 top 70s:
61. Karine Icher: #87 money ($55.4K), #85 RR (1.59), n.r. GSPI [not enough events in database] (71.83), #54 HD, #107 TJ (2.64). Down 15 spots.
62. Dewi Claire Schreefel: #62 money ($136.1K), #178 RR (.81), #108 GSPI (72.84), #69 HD, #54 TJ (18.68).
63. Cindy LaCrosse: #65 money ($114.8K), #169 RR (.89), #112 GSPI (72.96), #63 HD, #57 TJ (17.70). Down 7 spots.
64. Kyeong Bae: #66 money ($109.1K), #144 RR (1.05), #129 GSPI (73.62), n.r. HD, #56 TJ (18.22). Down 6 spots.
65. Gerina Mendoza Piller: #68 money ($103.3K), #218 RR (.63), #147 GSR (73.37), #64 HD, #70 TJ (11.38). Debut!
66. Amanda Blumenherst: #52 money ($164.9K), #127 RR (1.17), #87 GSPI (72.40), n.r. HD, #59 TJ (16.92).
67. Christina Kim: #58 money ($149.8K), #88 RR (1.57), #109 GSPI (72.89), n.r. HD, #71 TJ (11.20).
A pair of players round out the ranking with at most 2 top 70s and/or at least 3 top 80s:
68. Belen Mozo: #67 money ($104.3K), #175 RR (.82), #115 GSPI (72.99), n.r. HD, #65 TJ (12.96). Debut!
69. Heather Bowie Young: #70 money ($97.6K), #165 RR (.88), #131 GSPI (73.23), n.r. HD, #75 TJ (10.88). Down 10 spots.
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