With the first round underway, there's more than a win at stake for many players in the field of the LPGA Championship Presented by Rolex.
History in the making…
Jiyai Shin already won the 2009 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and will become both the youngest and the first Korean player to finish in the top spot on the LPGA Official Money List. With $1,775,104 in season earnings, Shin has already earned the most official money by a rookie. If she also takes home Rolex Player of the Year honors, she would become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both Rolex Player of the Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. She also has the opportunity to…
…become the fastest player to reach $2 million in career-earnings (25 events; 8 months, 8 days).
…become the youngest player to be crowned Rolex Player of the Year.
On the bubble...
At least ten players have a chance at finishing the year in the top-80 of the LPGA Official Money List, which would give them Priority List Category 1 for the 2010 LPGA Tour season. The following players fall in the 75-85 range on the current money list, and depending on how they finish this week in Houston, could either fall out, remain the same, or jump into a top-80 position and have top playing status for next year.
75. Amy Hung – $122,442 ($9,493 more than 80th-place)
76. Alena Sharp – $122,345 ($9,396 more than 80th-place)
77. Sarah Lee – $119,507 ($6,558 more than 80th-place)
78. Moira Dunn – $116,529 ($3,580 more than 80th-place)
79. Irene Cho – $115,257 ($2,308 more than 80th-place)
80. Katie Futcher – $112,949
81. Il Mi Chung – $110,415 ($2,534 less than 80th-place)
82. Allison Hanna – $104,603 ($8,346 less than 80th-place)
83. Kris Tamulis – $99,711 ($13,238 less than 80th-place)
84. Taylor Leon – $98,271 ($14,678 less than 80th-place)
85. Louise Stahle – $95,284 ($17,665 less than 80th-place)
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