The Best on the LPGA without a Major, June 2014 Edition

With the U.S. Women's Open starting in a couple of days, it's about time I updated my January 2014 survey of who actually has had the best careers on the LPGA among those who have not yet won a major.  Lexi Thompson was ranked 3rd last time, but she turned out to be the 1st to graduate from this list.  It'll be interesting to see who's next!

In what follows, I'll be relying strongly on my career rankings spreadsheet and major rankings spreadsheet to do this, but the question is how to combine the ranking systems.  Is it better to have a proven record of winning over the course of your LPGA career but not yet have converted that into a major win or is it better to have a history of near-misses in majors and in other tournaments?  To me, that's a judgment call, based on individual careers, so what I'll do is simply add together the points players have earned in each system to sort players into rough groups, then adjust rankings within each group based on head-to-head comparisons between the players in each of them.

[Note:  the numbers in parentheses following each player's name represent total LPGA victories/KLPGA-JLPGA-LET victories, points in my major ranking system (rank), points in my career ranking system (rank).]

Simply the Best

1. Lydia Ko (3/2, 620 [#28], 3020 [#3]).  She's the universal favorite for 2014 Rookie of the Year, #1 in the LPGA's Club 36 (3-to-6-time winners), and already has done surprisingly well in majors, most notably in the Evian Championship last year.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T25 (2013)
• LPGA:  T17 (2013)
• USWO:  T36 (2013)
• WBO:  T17 (2012)
• Evian:  2nd (2013)

In January, I wrote, "I'd be shocked if she didn't improve on her peak performances in 4 of the 5 LPGA majors in 2014.  No pressure, eh?"  She couldn't do it at Mission Hills.  Let's see how she handles Pinehurst!

2. Ai Miyazato (9/17, 709 [#23], 2131 [#10]).  She's #1 in the Class of 2006, #4 in the Tseng Dynasty, and now #2 in LPGA's Club 79 (those with 7 to 9 wins on tour).  Here are her best finishes in LPGA majors:

• Kraft Nabisco Championship:  T15 (2007)
• Wegmans LPGA Championship: T3 (2006 and 2010)
• U.S. Women's Open:  T6 (2009 and 2011)
• Ricoh Women's British Open:  T3 (2009)
• Evian Championship:  T15 (2013) 

Of her 15 JLPGA victories, 2 came in majors, the Japan Women's Open in 2005 and the Konica Minolta Cup in 2006.  Despite her struggles with her short game this season, her career record justifies her #2 position.

3. In-Kyung Kim (3/1, 1022 [#14], 1699 [#11]).  She's #2 in the Class of 2007, #5 in the Tseng Dynasty, and #6 in the LPGA's Club 36.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  2nd (2012)
• LPGA:  T5 (2010)
• USWO:  2nd (2013)
• WBO:  T3 (2010)
• Evian:  T19 (2013)

Although she has a better record in majors than many major winners, she's had even more trouble closing the deal in them than in regular tournaments.  I have a feeling that once she finds the next oasis, it'll make finding ones after it that much easier.  But she's going to have to find something on Pinehurst's greens that she hasn't found on many others this season to do it this week.

4. Michelle Wie (3/0, 792 [#19], 1607 [#14]).  She's #4 in the Class of 2009, #4 in the LPGA's New Blood generation, and #3 in the LPGA's Club 36.  Although her best finishes in majors mostly date back from before she joined the LPGA, she's made career marks in the last 2 majors she's competed in:

• KNC:  2nd (2014)
• LPGA:  2nd (2005)
• USWO:  T3 (2006)
• WBO:  T3 (2005)
• Evian:  T37 (2013)

Can a major victory be far away?  On paper, either she or Lydia Ko has the best chance to graduate from this list this week!

The Contenders

5. Amy Yang (1/4, 759 [#22], 1229 [#19]):  She's #5 in the Class of 2008, #8 in the Tseng Dynasty, and #1 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T4 (2012)
• LPGA:  T5 (2013)
• USWO:  2nd (2012)
• WBO:  4th (2011)
• Evian:  T67 (2013)

Although Yang won a KLPGA major in 2011 and finished 2013 hot, she hasn't been lighting it up in 2014 as of yet, but USWO's typically suit her game.

6. Hee Kyung Seo (1/11, 522 [#32], 1170 [#23]):  She's #1 in the Class of 2011, #5 among the LPGA's New Blood, and #6 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T4 (2012)
• LPGA:  T34 (2011)
• USWO:  2nd (2011)
• WBO:  T5 (2010)
• Evian:  T64 (2013)

In addition to her strong performances in most every LPGA major, she won 3 KLPGA majors in 2009.  When she returns from maternity leave, I wouldn't be at all surprised if she pulled a Catriona Matthew!

7. Azahara Munoz (1/2, 370 [#43], 1256 [#17]).  She's #2 in the Class of 2010, #7 in the New Blood Generation, and #2 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T7 (2014)
• LPGA:  T8 (2011)
• USWO:  T19 (2010)
• WBO:  T19 (2010)
• Evian:  T19 (2013)

Even though she's underperformed in majors, she has a strong overall record and is on something of a roll again.  In January, I wrote, "I expect her to set career high-water marks in most all of the 2014 majors."  She did at the KNC; let's see if she can do it at Pinehurst!  I'm very likely to put her among my projected top 15 at Pinehurst!

8. Mika Miyazato (1/2, 473 [#36], 1163 [#24]):  She's #5 in the Class of 2011, #6 among the LPGA's New Blood, and #5 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T7 (2011)
• LPGA:  T2 (2012)
• USWO:  5th (2011)
• WBO:  4th (2012)
• Evian:  T19 (2013)

Both her JLPGA victories have come at the most important major on their schedule, the Japan Women's Open, so she's another player I'd say is due to do even better in LPGA majors, except for the fact that her short game has been atrocious in 2014.

9. Lizette Salas (1/0, 331 [#46], 1248 [#18).  After breaking through for her 1st career LPGA victory this year, Salas not only leapfrogged 3 players I predicted would do it before her (Caroline Hedwall, Chella Choi, and Carlota Ciganda), she's become a real threat to do it again before Amy Yang and Azahara Munoz, my current top 2 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Plus she's done great in majors already for someone ranked #3 in her Class of 2012:

• KNC:  T25 (2013)
• LPGA:  T25 (2012)
• USWO:  T15 (2011)
• WBO:  6th (2013)
• Evian:  T11 (2013)

Now that she's really got her short game back in gear, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see her contend at Pinehurst.

10. Hee Young Park (2/6, 456 [#37], 1080 [#27]).  She's #4 in the Class of 2008, #11 in the Tseng Dynasty, and now #2 among the LPGA's 2-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T7 (2013)
• LPGA:  T14/14th (2011 and 2012)
• USWO:  T9 (2009)
• WBO:  T2 (2013)
• Evian:  T19 (2013)

As much as she improved on her record in LPGA majors in 2013, I expect her to do even better in 2014.  She couldn't do it at Mission Hills; she's in my projected top 25 at Pinehurst but I haven't decided whether I'll pick her in Seoul Sisters.com's PakPicker competition.

 

Quantum Leap Candidates

11. Angela Stanford (5/0, 602 [#29], n.a. [n.r.]).  She's the only LPGA veteran with a strong enough record to make it into this category.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T3 (2010)
• LPGA:  T4 (2004)
• USWO:  T2 (2003)
• WBO:  T13 (2002)
• Evian:  T6 (2013)

You might be tempted to think "what have you done for me lately?" when it comes to Stanford's record in LPGA majors, but you'd be dead wrong.  She has 8-straight top-20 finishes in the KNC (including a T7 this year), she's finished in the top 35 in the LPGA Championship in 10 of her last 11 starts (with another top 5 in 2009), she got a top 10 in the USWO in 2005 and top 5s in 2 of her last 3 starts, and she's got top 25s in the WBO in 4 of her last 5 starts.  I'm sure if I extended my ranking system back to the Class of 2001 and the LPGA generation that bears her name, she'd be even higher on this list!  The only thing holding me back about picking her at Pinehurst is how bad her short game has been thus far this season.

12. Brittany Lang (1/0, 530 [#31], 912 [#32]).  She's #6 in the Class of 2006, #16 in the Tseng Dynasty, and #8 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T6 (2006)
• LPGA:  T18 (2008)
• USWO:  T2 (2005)
• WBO:  2nd (2011)
• Evian:  T57 (2013)

The KNC is definitely her most consistent major, as she finished in the top 21 between 2006 and 2010, but even there she's been inconsistent of late.  Still, she can contend out of nowhere, as she did as an amateur at the USWO in 2005 and as a pro in 2010 and 2013, as well as at the 2011 WBO.  I'd be surprised if it happened at Pinehurst, however, given the way her short game has been in 2014.

13. Jee Young Lee (1/1, 428 [#38], 976 [#30]).  She's #5 in the Class of 2006, #15 in the Tseng Dynasty, and #11 among the LPGA's 1-time winners.  And that's despite a slump that's been only a little shorter and shallower than her fellow Lee in the '06ers.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T13 (2007)
• LPGA:  T10 (2007)
• USWO:  7th (2007)
• WBO:  T2 (2007)
• Evian:  WD (2013)

She's failed to finish 7 of the last 10 majors she started and missed out on qualifying for 4 others during that stretch, which dates back to 2011.  Even though she's started to pull out of her slump in regular tournaments, she hadn't cracked the top 30 in an LPGA major since the 2010 USWO, until she got a T16 at Mission Hills this year.  Let's see if she can keep turning things around over the rest of 2014.

14. Jessica Korda (3/0, 202 [#63], 1195 [#21]).  As the newest member of the LPGA's Club 36, I'd put her at #5 or #6 in that category if I were redoing the ranking today, and I'd probably be ranking her higher than #3 in the Class of 2011 and #10 in the New Blood generation, as well.  She's posted her best finish in 5 consecutive LPGA majors:

• KNC:  T24 (2014)
• LPGA:  T49 (2013)
• USWO:  T7 (2013)
• WBO:  T25 (2013)
• Evian:  T37 (2013)

But she'll need to play really well at Pinehurst to keep that streak alive!

15. Seon Hwa Lee (4/3, 245 [#54], 1177 [#22]).  Even with her pronounced slump of recent years, her career stats actually remain quite strong (she was still #4 in the very strong Class of 2006 at the start of 2014 and #10 in the Tseng Dynasty).  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  5th (2008)
• LPGA:  T10 (2008)
• USWO:  T25 (2007)
• WBO:  T14 (2008)
• Evian:  DNP (2013)

You can tell how bad her slump has been by the fact that she hasn't made a cut in a major since the KNC in 2012 and has missed it in 8 of 11 starts in majors dating back to 2010.  Even worse, she failed to even qualify for 6 of the last 8 majors (including this year's KNC and USWO).  Imagine how much higher she'd be ranked if she hadn't fallen off the career cliff and instead been simply mediocre the last few seasons!

16. Beatriz Recari (3/1, 169 [#66], 1084 [#26]):  She's #1 in the Class of 2010, #8 in the New Blood Generation, and #3 in Club 36.  Her best finishes:

• KNC:  T25 (2013)
• LPGA:  T19 (2013)
• USWO:  T27 (2011)
• WBO:  T26 (2012)
• Evian:  T9 (2013)

You can tell how well she's been playing in the last few seasons by how recent her career bests in majors have been, but she's still underperforming in majors compared to her achievements in regular tournaments.  And in 2014 that's extended to regular-season events, as well, no thanks to a truly horrific short game thus far.  None of which bodes well for Pinehurst.

17. Chella Choi (0/0, 387 [#40], 853 [#34]).  She's now the top player on the LPGA without a win, #6 in the Class of 2009, and #11 in the New Blood generation.  And she's been pretty strong in every major:

• KNC:  T16 (2014)
• LPGA:  T5 (2013)
• USWO:  T13 (2011)
• WBO:  T10 (2012)
• Evian:  T6 (2013)

Plus, she's got the short game to contend at Pinehurst!

The Best of the Rest

18. Caroline Hedwall (0/5, 317 [#47], 929 [#31]).
19. Julieta Granada (1/0, 273 [#52], 761 [#37]).
20. Kristy McPherson (0/0, 427 [#39], 578 [#46]).
21. Meena Lee (2/4, 173 [#65], 856 [#33]).
22. Sandra Gal (1/0, 290 [#50], 726 [#39]).
23. Gerina Piller (0/0, 222 [#58], 763 [#36]).
24. Jennifer Johnson (1/0, 233 [#56], 705 [#40]).
25. Jodi Ewart Shadoff (0/0, 284 [#51], 637 [#43]).
26. Jenny Shin (0/0, 149 [#68], 747 [#38]).  She's got the short game to compete at Pinehurst!
27. Ilhee Lee (1/0, 231 [#57], 651 [#42]).
28. Caroline Masson (0/1, 355 [#44], 532 [#49]).
29. Haeji Kang (0/0, 214 [#60], 557 [#48]).
30. Pornanong Phatlum (0/2, 110 [#72], 656 [#41]).
31. Carlota Ciganda (0/3, 120 [#71], 584 [#45]).
32. Chie Arimura (0/13, 220 [#59], 481 [#51]).
33. Ji Young Oh (0/0, 78 [#75], 590 [#44]).
34. Ayako Uehara (0/3, 237 [#55], 396 [#58]).
35. Katie Futcher (0/0, 262 [#53], 371 [#59]).
36. Jane Park (0/0, 167 [#67], 464 [#53]).
37. Mi Jung Hur (1/0, 52 [#77], 562 [#47]).
38. Vicky Hurst (0/0, 143 [#69], 477 [#52]).
39. Natalie Gulbis (1/1, 494 [#34], n.a. [n.r.]).
40. Candie Kung (4/0, 490 [#35], n.a. [n.r.]).

So that's the 2nd edition of my top 40.  Who would you add to this list, and where?  How would you suggest reordering it?  What do you think of my way of combining my 2 ranking systems?