[ad_1]
After Lydia Ko notched her 20th career LPGA title at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on Sunday, it’s interesting to note what rare air that is on tour these days.
Ko won 14 titles on the LPGA as a teenager, and has endured a number of grueling droughts in her 20s.
The 26-year-old now sits only one point away from qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, believed to be the toughest Hall to get into in all of sports.
At her home club of Lake Nona, Ko became the 29th different player in LPGA history to earn at least 20 official wins. She moved into a tie for 27th with Laura Davies and Cristie Kerr on the all-time official career wins list.
Here’s a look at who has the most LPGA titles among active players, noting that several ahead of Ko haven’t been too “active” in recent years:
Webb didn’t compete on the LPGA in 2023, but she did play three times in 2022. The 49-year-old Aussie legend turns 50 at the end of the year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her play in more LPGA events down the road as she gears up for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Webb won the 2022 Senior LPGA Championship.
Currently on maternity leave, Park’s future on the LPGA remains unknown. The LPGA Hall of Famer last won on the LPGA in 2021. She made 15 starts in 2022. Park and husband G.H. Nam welcomed a daughter last April.
Davies was pretty down on her game at the end of 2023, but left the door open to compete in one last AIG Women’s British Open as her exemption runs out after this year. The 60-year-old made a handful of starts last season on the LPGA, missing the cut in each. She withdrew from last year’s AIG with injury.
Kerr’s 20th LPGA title came in 2017 in Malaysia, 15 years after her first. The 46-year-old mother of two made 10 starts on the tour last season, making the cut three times.
Ko’s 20th LPGA title came just steps away from home at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. She won twice on tour as an amateur before joining in 2014. The two-time major winner has a packed schedule of events planned for 2024 as she chases the Hall of Fame and Olympic gold.
Yani Tseng, entered in this week’s LPGA Drive On field in Bradenton, Florida, hasn’t compete on the LPGA since the 2021 season after being on a medical leave. The five-time major winner last won on tour in 2012.
A two-time LPGA Player of the Year, Ko won twice last season but didn’t contend in any majors. She ended the year with an injury, wearing a knee brace at the CME Group Tour Championship, where she was forced to withdraw prior to the third round.
The most recent mom to win on tour, Lewis played a full schedule in 2022 and 2023 despite her obligations as U.S. Solheim Cup captain. The two-time major winner last won in 2020. She remains Solheim Cup captain for the 2024 event.
The winningest Canadian in golf history, Henderson’s latest victory came at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in 2023. Henderson won her first LPGA title – by eight strokes – as a Monday qualifier in 2015. She was 17 years old.
Ariya Jutanguran became the first Thai player to rise to No. 1 in the world and win a major. The power player last won on the LPGA three years ago at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational team event with older sister Moriya.
Kim shed the title of best player without a major at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA at Aronimink Golf Club. She’s also a five-time winner on the KLPGA.
Jiyai Shin gave up her LPGA membership in 2014 to compete on the Japan LPGA and be closer to family. The two-time major winner and former No. 1 has won 30 times in Japan and 21 times on the KLPGA. She competed in three LPGA majors last season, finishing in the top 3 at the U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s British Open.
Winless on the LPGA since 2019, Thompson ended 2023 on a high note after a more than respectable showing on the PGA Tour. The 28-year-old won her first LPGA title by five strokes at age 16 at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.
Creamer’s last victory on the LPGA came at the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions. She has played a limited schedule since giving birth to daughter Hilton Rose in 2022. Creamer won twice as a rookie in 2005, with her finest victory coming at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont.
[ad_2]
Source link