Nelly Korda is getting comfortable at the top. For the fourth straight week, Korda remains at No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
At just 25 years old, Korda has already etched her name into the golf history books in more ways than one. But last week, she clinched her fourth title at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, marking a significant milestone as the first American since Kathy Whitworth in 1969 to win four of her first five starts in a season.
Her victories at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nev., the LPGA Drive On Championship in her native Bradenton, Fla., the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club and the Ford Championship presented by KCC in Arizona have further solidified Korda’s dominance.
Korda first jumped into the top spot in June 2021 and has only been outside the top five in the Rolex Rankings three times since entering it in November 2019. She moved back to No. 1 after her win at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship and has remained there ever since. Korda currently holds a 3.79-point lead in the rankings over No. 2 Lilia Vu, who took last week off but will be back in action and ready to defend her major title at The Chevron Championship next week in the Lone Star State.
But Korda's success is not just limited to her LPGA Tour titles. With her recent win, she has crossed the $1 million mark in season earnings, adding to her impressive career earnings of over $10,000,000. This feat also ties her with Lorena Ochoa as the fastest to reach $1 million in single-season earnings, a testament to her recent dominance on the LPGA Tour.
Around the World
Seven countries are represented in the top 10 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, and 11 are in the top 25, once again establishing the LPGA Tour as a global sports organization.
The Americans lead the way with seven golfers in the top 25 in the Rolex Rankings, led by Nelly Korda. Korda's teammate at the 2023 Solheim Cup, Lilia Vu, is No.2, while Megan Khang is at No.13, Angel Yin is at No. 20 and Rose Zhang is at No. 21.
The Republic of Korea has the second-most players in the top 25, with four, including Jin Young Ko at No. 6, Hyo-Joo Kim at No. 9 and Amy Yang at No. 15. Because they sit within the top 15, Ko, Kim and Yang are currently eligible for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Atthaya Thitikul and Patty Tavatanakit – who helped lead Thailand to a win at the 2023 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown – are the lone Thai representatives in the top 25. They are also currently on pace to represent their country in the Olympics this summer.
France (Celine Boutier), People's Republic of China (Ruoning Yin, Xiyu Lin), Australia (Minjee Lee, Hannah Green), England (Charley Hull), New Zealand (Lydia Ko), Canada (Brooke Henderson), Japan (Nasa Hataoka, Ayaka Furue, Miyu Yamashita) and Ireland (Leona Maguire), round out the other countries with representation in the Rolex Rankings top 25.
Leona Maguire Moves to Ninth on Race to the CME Globe
Leona Maguire fell short of capturing her third career LPGA Tour win at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, but her runner-up finish moved her from No. 38 to ninth in the Race to the CME Globe standings.
Heading into the off week, Maguire has two additional top 13s, including a T13 at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship and a T12 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She also ranks 10th on the official money list and is 11th in the Rolex Player of the Year standings. The Irishwoman also moved up seven spots in the world rankings to No. 23.