10 LPGA players set to make run at a major title
Now that Nelly Korda is forever off the best-without-a-major list, who’s next to break through?
Well, in the eyes of many, it stays in the family.
Jessica Korda, a six-time winner on the LPGA, heads to this week’s Amundi Evian Championship still in search of her first major title.
The last eight women’s majors were won by players winning their first major title: Nelly Korda, Yuka Saso, Patty Tavatanakit, A Lim Kim, Sei Young Kim, Mirim Lee, Sophia Popov and Hinako Shibuno.
The Evian starts Thursday in France and is two weeks before the Olympics golf competition in Japan, and the women’s final major of 2021, the Women’s British Open, is two weeks after the Summer Games.
Here’s a list of 10 players who might continue that trend based on recent form and close calls at big events.
Jessica Korda (Rolex Ranking No. 13): A six-time winner on the LPGA who won the season-opening event this season thanks to a third-round 60 at the Diamond Resort Tournament of Champions. Has yet to crack the top three in a major in 52 starts. Best finish this year in a major was a share of 15th at the KPMG Women’s PGA, won by her little sister.
Minjee Lee (No. 14): Though winless since 2019, Lee has five career titles and has been a steady force on the LPGA since she joined the tour in 2015. The Aussie has a pair of third-place finishes at the majors and made 30 cuts in 35 starts. Best finish at the Evian was a share of 11th in 2015.
Nasa Hataoka (No. 9): Recent winner at the rain-shortened Marathon Classic, the 22-year-old Japanese star has four career titles on the LPGA. Lost in a playoff at two major championships, most recently the U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in June. In 2018, Hataoka was eliminated on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff at the KPMG Women’s PGA, eventually won by Sung Hyun Park. Has a total of five top-10 finishes at the majors in 18 starts. A three-time winner of the Japan Women’s Open, including a 2016 victory as an amateur.
Austin Ernst (No. 21): Captured her third career victory in March at the LPGA Drive on Championship. Best finish in a major came at the 2018 Evian when she tied for second. Heads into this year’s Evian on the strength of two top-seven finishes.
Ally Ewing (No. 17): The former Mississippi State standout has taken her game to a new level in recent months, winning twice since October 2020. Boasts 11 top-25 finishes in 24 major starts. Evian finishes: T-30, 13, 43, T-11.
Lizette Salas (No. 23): Lipped out a 5-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole at the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open that would’ve put her one shot ahead of Hinako Shibuno, playing in the group behind. Shibuno ultimately birdied the final hole to win the title outright. Last month, Salas took a share of second at the KPMG Women’s PGA.
Moriya Jutanugarn (No. 34): Riding high after a special victory at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational with sister Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya comes to the major where she’s had the most success with three top-10 finishes, including a share of third in 2017. She made 23 consecutive cuts at the majors until missing the weekend at the U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic.
Amy Olson (No. 29): One of those players who seems to fall in the tougherthe-better category, a winless Olson has twice finished in a share of second at the majors. The first one came at the Evian, where she double-bogeyed the 72nd hole to lose to Angela Stanford by a stroke. Olson suffered a heartbreaking loss on Saturday night while contending at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open when her father-in-law died unexpectedly. She bravely fought hard to finish tied for second on a bitterly cold Monday finish.
Jennifer Kupcho (No. 25): The highest-ranked LPGA player without a victory, Kupcho seems to have the game and mindset suited to make her first title a major. The 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion nearly won the Evian shortly after turning professional, ultimately finishing in a share of second in her debut in France. With the Evian being canceled last year, this is her second start in the championship. The former Wake Forest standout tied for seventh at the 2020 KPMG at Aronimink.
Charley Hull (No. 35): Hull’s lone LPGA title came at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in 2016. The powerful Brit played well in her amateur debut at the ANA Inspiration in 2012 (tie for 38) and has three top-10s in the event since then, including a share of second in 2016. She tied for 14th at this year’s ANA and tied for 21st at the KPMG at Atlanta Athletic Club.