Stars are shining on LPGA Tour But after being granted member-
ship by LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, Ko has so far silenced the skeptics with her stellar play and in- fectious demeanor. Ko, from New Zealand, has won seven tourna- ments and climbed to the number one spot in the world rankings earlier this season. She has a calm about her that isn’t normally seen from someone so young, and her game has been nothing short of spectacular. Lexi Thompson is another young
player who is loaded with talent and connects to the younger generation of golf fans. The long-hitting star from Florida, who just turned 20, has four career wins since joining the tour in 2012. She currently sits fifth in the “Driving Distance” cat- egory on the LPGA Tour with an average drive of over 266 yards. Another long-hitting athletic
Lydia Ko, the number one ranked female golfer in the world, is just one of the young superstars on the LPGA Tour.
BY PARKER REYNOLDS H
as there ever been a more excit- ing time to follow the LPGA
Tour? For those who were lucky enough to be around when Nancy Lopez took the women’s tour by storm, in the late 70’s, there’s probably a chance of an argument. Afterall, Lopez won nine tournaments as a rookie and followed that up with eight wins the very next year. She was a great player and maybe an even bigger star with a personality that resonated warmth and kindness. She connected with the fans in a way that hadn’t been seen
since Arnold Palmer and that connec- tion drew fans to the women’s game. But how can anyone not say the
current crop of superstars, many of them still teenagers, does not represent the best and most exciting group of players ever seen in LPGA history? No player personifies that youth superstar aura more than Lydia Ko. When she applied for membership to the LPGA in 2013 as a 16-year- old, people argued that she was too young. Understandable after seeing young athletes in golf and other sports burn out when put in the spot- light before the maturity to handle it was there.
6 Virginia Golf Report • Spring 2015 •
virginiagolfreport.com
young star is Jessica Korda. Still only 22, Korda has picked up 3 victories in her short LPGA career which began in 2011. When Michelle Wie won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in 2014 it was a huge moment for the LPGA. Wie, while still only 24 at the time, had underachieved according to many so-called experts and fans. They expected her to dominate, similar to what Tiger did when he began his career, but it didn’t happen. The win at Pinehurst, her first major championship and fourth overall win, could be a huge step in getting
back to the form seen earlier in her career.
And don’t forget about the “old” American star Stacy Lewis. At 30, Lewis is maybe not considered a part of the young guns anymore, but she’s still one of the top players in the world and is coming off an incredible year that saw her win the money title, scoring average crown, and Player of the Year honors. She wrestled the number one ranking in the world back from Inbee Park and held it un- til Ko’s early season 2015 run. Lewis will definitely be fighting hard to get back on top. Ever since Se Ri Pak burst onto
COVER STORY
Young LPGA stars like Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda, join top established veterans to create an incredible product for spectators to see. Watch them at the upcoming Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg.
the scene in 1998, a steady flow of fellow South Korean’s have fol- lowed. In Bee Park, who dominated the LPGA Tour in 2013 with six wins, including three majors, leads the way for the current crop of top South Korean players who are a big part of the LPGA story. Shanshan Feng, Hyo-Joo Kim, So Yeon Ryu, and early-season winner Amy Yang, all reside inside the top ten (at the time of writing) of the Rolex World Rankings.
Other LPGA stars who continue to shine include three-time Kingsmill champion Christie Kerr, Suzann Pet- tersen (2007 Kingsmill champion), Brittany Lincicome, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Karrie Webb. All of these players are expected to be at Kingsmill. Now’s the time to catch all of them in action. It’s never been better on the LPGA Tour.
Matt Ball
PGA Professional & VCU Golf Coach can help you
Improve your golf game
Available for Lessons at First-Tee Richmond
*Over 20 years of
teaching experience with players of all levels - beginners to tour players.
Call (804) 305-3743
Photo courtesy of LPGA
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