With Lexi and Wiesy winning the last 2 LPGA events, it's a good time to take another look at how the best players to join the LPGA since 2005 stack up against each other, something I haven't revisited since the end of last season. For the full rundown, check out my spreadsheet. The numbers in brackets following the player's name and point total represent how many points they have gained or lost since my November ranking.
Simply the Best
1. Ya Ni Tseng (3820) [-44]
The Contenders
2. Ji-Yai Shin (3376)
3. Na Yeon Choi (2768) [-56]
4. Inbee Park (2762) [+37]
5. Stacy Lewis (2757) [+55]
6. Paula Creamer (2752) [+57]
The Next Best
7. So Yeon Ryu (2367) [-97]
8. Lydia Ko (2358)
9. Lexi Thompson (2159) [+317]
10. Ai Miyazato (2155) [-63]
8. Lydia Ko (2358)
9. Lexi Thompson (2159) [+317]
10. Ai Miyazato (2155) [-63]
Quantum Leap Candidates
11. In-Kyung Kim (1734) [-25]
12. Anna Nordqvist (1654) [+107]
12. Anna Nordqvist (1654) [+107]
13. Shanshan Feng (1598) [-25]
14. Michelle Wie (1552) [+195]
15. Brittany Lincicome (1454) [-33]14. Michelle Wie (1552) [+195]
16. Morgan Pressel (1346) [-9]
17. Azahara Munoz (1264) [+83]
17. Azahara Munoz (1264) [+83]
18. Amy Yang (1237) [-2]
19. Song-Hee Kim (1226)
20. Seon Hwa Lee (1203) [-21]
19. Song-Hee Kim (1226)
20. Seon Hwa Lee (1203) [-21]
21. Mika Miyazato (1185) [-42]
22. Hee Kyung Seo (1180) [-79]
23. Beatriz Recari (1115) [-49]
24. Angela Park (1114)
22. Hee Kyung Seo (1180) [-79]
23. Beatriz Recari (1115) [-49]
24. Angela Park (1114)
25. Hee Young Park (1094) [-94]
26. Lizette Salas (1083) [+114]
27. Jessica Korda (1059) [+197]
28. Eun-Hee Ji (1044) [-3]
28. Eun-Hee Ji (1044) [-3]
29. Sun Young Yoo (1043) [-22]
The Best of the Rest
30. Jee Young Lee (996) [-12]
31. Caroline Hedwall (943) [-54]
31. Caroline Hedwall (943) [-54]
32. Brittany Lang (918) [-19]
33. Chella Choi (855) [+73]
34. Meena Lee (838) [-13]
35. Momoko Ueda (765)
36. Julieta Granada (756) [+2]
37. Gerina Piller (741) [+49]
38. Sandra Gal (734) [+4]
39. Ilhee Lee (682) [-44]
40. Jenny Shin (659) [+21]
41. Jennifer Johnson (647) [-41]
42. Pornanong Phatlum (640) [+36]
43. Jodi Ewart Shadoff (630) [-33]
36. Julieta Granada (756) [+2]
37. Gerina Piller (741) [+49]
38. Sandra Gal (734) [+4]
39. Ilhee Lee (682) [-44]
40. Jenny Shin (659) [+21]
41. Jennifer Johnson (647) [-41]
42. Pornanong Phatlum (640) [+36]
43. Jodi Ewart Shadoff (630) [-33]
44. Carlota Ciganda (629) [-139]
45. Ji Young Oh (602) [-10]
46. Kristy McPherson (594) [-10]
47. Mi Jung Hur (577) [-20]
48. Teresa Lu (587)
48. Teresa Lu (587)
50. Caroline Masson (533) [-49]
As you can see, my system ranks Thompson, Korda, Wie, Salas, Nordqvist, Munoz, and Chella Choi as the hottest players to join the tour since 2005, while Ciganda, Ryu, Hee Young Park, Seo, Ai Miyazato, NYC, Hedwall, Recari, and Masson are playing the furthest below their career averages. It'll be interesting to see where Ko ends up at the end of this season, given how volatile her ranking will be this year.
4 comments:
I think what raises golf ratings are great rivalries. There was Nicklaus-Palmer, Nicklaus-Watson, Woods-Mickelson, etc.
I think Wie-Thompson could really escalate into something special in the coming months and maybe years.
All signs are pointing to it, Tony! That said, I wouldn't count out any of those ranked ahead of or near them from going on runs of their own. I don't think Lexi or Michelle are any better than any of them just yet.
Bruce does the LPGA have any history at the Lake Merced Golf Club? I know Lydia and Yani had a good look at the course for a media event a few weeks ago for the Swinging Skirts. All eyes will be on Michelle and Lexi this week for sure but we have already had a few players running hot then cold so far this year and I would still only put Michelle in with Inbee and Stacy in the lukewarm position. This week will be very interesting if no players have played this course before and we do have a stronger field than last week.
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