Race to the CME Globe Top Nine

Here’s a look at the top nine players in the Race to the CME Globe rankings, all of whom have a chance to win it all with a victory at this week’s CME Group Tour Championship. The top three can win it all with a victory this week and Nos. 4-9 can take home a huge purse by winning and getting assistance from those above them. Also, a glance at their CME Group Tour Championship history:

No. 1, Lydia Ko, New Zealand: Ko is comfortable at this site, with eight rounds of par or better in two seasons, including last year’s $1.5 million victory. She made her LPGA professional debut here in late 2013, earning $16,063 for a T21.

No. 2, Inbee Park, South Korea: Watch out, since Park has never won this tournament and is coming off a sub-par performance in last year’s finale (T24 and never in contention). An LPGA Hall of Fame spot is possible in three ways – win the tournament, the Rolex Player of the Year or have the lowest stroke average to capture the Vare Trophy.

No. 3, Stacy Lewis, United States: There is a precedent to coming from the third spot to win the whole shebang. Last year, Lydia Ko was third entering the finale, won in a playoff and captured it all. Lewis took last week off to rest in preparation for a shot at her first win of 2015 and the first since June 2014.
No. 4, Sei Young Kim, South Korea: An impressive rookie season (three wins, rookie of the year) could increase considerably with a victory this week. Kim is tied for the LPGA lead in birdies and has made the most eagles.

First appearance in CME Group Tour Championship.

No. 5, Lexi Thompson, United States: No longer a teenager (age 20), Thompson has had her most consistent season (two wins, six top-5s, 12 top-10s). She hasn’t finished well in Naples in three previous starts, but did open with a 66 in 2013 for a career-best T16.

No. 6, Amy Yang, South Korea: Yang played the best nine holes, possibly in golf history, one month ago in South Korea (nine birdies in nine holes) and is having by far the best year of her career with more than $1 million in earnings, nine top-10s and a victory.

No. 7, So Yeon Ryu, South Korea: Inbee Parks’ best friend hasn’t won this season, but has made every cut and accumulated nine top-five finishes. She is the only player in the top nine with three top-10s in the final tournament.

No. 8, Anna Nordqvist, Sweden: The tall Swede won for a second consecutive season and has 10 top-10 finishes, a total second only to 2012.

No. 9, Shanshan Feng, China: China’s top golfer – male or female – is seeking a victory for a fourth consecutive season, but the 26-year old has recorded a career-best 12 top-10s this season.