On Thursday at the Royal Troon Old Course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, the first major in women’s golf for 2020 will take place. It has been 54 weeks since Hinako Shibuno of Japan won the last major on the LPGA calendar. Shibuno was victorious at the 2019 Women’s British Open in Milton Keynes on August 4, 2019. Here are five golfers who should be considered a legitimate threat.
5) Ariya Jutanugarn–Thailand–The two-time major champion from Thailand is 17th in the world. She has won a major twice before, being victorious at the Women’s British Open in 2016, and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2018. Jutanugarn has further success in Scotland as she won the Scottish Open two years ago.
4) Lexi Thompson–United States–The 2014 ANA Inspiration champion beat Michelle Wie by three strokes to win her only major six years ago. Where Thompson is strongest is her ability to come away with explosive tee shots. To date, she has won 11 times on the LPGA Tour, including the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. Thompson is currently ranked 10th in the world.
3) Brooke Henderson–Canada–The 2016 Women’s PGA Championship winner had an excellent 2019 golf season as she won twice–the Lotte Championship in Hawaii, and the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. At age 22, the future for Henderson is very bright. She is already the greatest Canadian female golfer of all-time. Henderson is currently ranked seventh in the world.
2) Inbee Park–South Korea–The 12th ranked player in the world is the reigning Olympic gold medalist from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and a seven-time major champion. Park also won the British Women’s Open at Trump Turnberry at South Ayrshire in 2015.
1) Danielle Kang–United States--The second-ranked player in the world has been the best female golfer since the LPGA returned from the coronavirus pause. She won the two women’s golf events in Ohio at the beginning of August in Toledo and Sylvania. Kang also has a major title on his resume as she won the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship.
Note: This report has since been updated to reflect the recent withdraws of South Korean golfers Jin-Young Ko, Sung Hyun Park and Sei Young Kim. They withdrew because of concerns related to coronavirus.
