Jessica Korda’s win at the Honda LPGA Thailand reverberated throughout several of the key rankings. She vaulted up 14 spots to No. 12 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, which means she is now the third highest ranked American in the world and therefore part of Team USA for the UL International Crown. If the UL International Crown started this week, Team USA would consist of Lexi Thompson (No. 2), Cristie Kerr (No. 9), Jessica Korda (No. 12) and Stacy Lewis (No. 20). On the outside looking in are Danielle Kang (No. 21), Michelle Wie (No. 26) and Lizette Salas (No. 32).
Korda also moved up to No. 3 on the Race to the CME Globe and now has 500 points, 90 behind both Brittany Lincicome and Jin Young Ko.
Azahara Munoz Climbs Eight Spots
Munoz finished T14 at the Honda LPGA Thailand with a final-round 68 to move up eight spots to No. 65 in the world. Munoz is the second highest ranked player from Spain behind Carlota Ciganda (No. 23). Munoz’s move up the rankings helped Spain jump over Team China for ninth in the UL International Crown standings. Keep in mind, the top eight countries as of June 4 will qualify. Still some work to do for Team Spain, but some positive momentum.
Munoz is off to a good start this season with two top 15 results in her three starts. It’s a good sign considering she had just one top 15 result all of last year.
Lexi Up to No. 2 in the World
By virtue of her T2 finish in Thailand, Lexi Thompson moved from No. 4 to No. 2 in the world and is now on the cusp of the top spot. Shanshan Feng has an average points score of 7.33 while Thompson’s average score is 7.23. Thompson’s ranking consists of 43 events and she has 22 top 10 finishes during the span. So, she has finished inside the top 10 in 51 percent of her starts over the last two years.
Thompson has been inside the top 10 in the world rankings for a staggering 136 consecutive weeks.
Nicole Broch Larsen into Top 80 in World
Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen climbed 10 spots in the world rankings to No. 79 after a T14 in Thailand. She has finished inside the top 20 in each of the last two events and has made the cut in all three to start the year.
Broch Larsen is certainly a player that can win on Tour. She has a power game off the tee (10th in average driving distance) and has a good touch around the greens (18th in putts per GIR).
She is the unquestioned top player from Denmark at the moment.
Minjee into World Top 15
Minjee Lee started the year at No. 19 in the world and now is No. 15 after jumping two more spots following her solo fourth in Thailand. She has two top five finishes to start the year (T5 at ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open). Remember, she also won the Oates Vic Open, a co-sanctioned LET/ALPG event. Incredible to think that at the age of 21, Lee has already accumulated 27 career top 10s and over $3 million in earnings. Likely only a matter of time before she captures her fourth career LPGA win.
Lee is No. 10 on the early season Race to the CME Globe standings.
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