5 Female Golfers You Should Be Following
With major tournaments like the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and Kia Classic recently wrapping up, it can be easy to lose track of all the emerging talent in women’s golf. With so many competitors playing at any given time, the truth is that top talent in the sport can burst onto the scene at any moment. In this article we will take a look at 5 female golfers that you should watch out for:
Georgia Hall
This 23-year old Bournemouth native already has the distinction of a recent 2018 Women’s British Open win under her belt and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Speaking with The Guardian, Hall talked about coming from humble beginnings – her dad was a plasterer, her mum a hairdresser – and being the only girl playing golf at their local driving range amidst a group of boys. Her love for golf enabled her to rise quickly through the ranks and although financial constraints caused her to miss three majors she’d previously qualified for, recent wins suggest that she will be a top contender in the near future.
Jin Young Ko
The 23-year old Ko is fresh off her first ever LPGA major championship win at the ANA Inspiration. Having beat compatriot Mi Hyung Lee, Ko was in control as she finished with a three-shot victory. This win saw her move up from 5th place to the top of the Rolex Rankings. So it comes as no surprise that pundits put Jin Young Ko as the favourite to win her next tournament. Whether she lives up to these expectations, of course, remains to be seen, but based on her previous performance she is looking at becoming one of the top players on the tour in the coming years.
Gaby Lopez
Rising up through the ranks of the LPGA Top 100, Gaby Lopez puts her success down to a mixture of faith, teamwork and good old-fashioned work ethic. In an interview with X The Line, Lopez recalls how her father would take her to play golf as a child. She eventually fell in love with the sport and her love for golf ultimately took over her desire to become an Olympic gymnast. Although golf may not be her original sport, Lopez dreams of making history and possibly winning all the majors on the LPGA Tour someday.
Nasa Hataoka
Like the aforementioned Ko, this 20-year old Japanese golfer is also fresh off a major win after claiming the recent Kia Classic. ESPN UK details how this marks her 3rd LPGA Tour title, which she achieved after closing with a 5-under 67, resulting in a three-stroke victory over her nearest competitors. The win did not come easy, as Hataoka recounts having to overcome some bad putting to eventually hit the birdies she needed. While she is happy with the win, Hataoka remains focused on the rest of the tour. “Big tournament coming up next week, so I’ll celebrate a little bit but get my mind refreshed and start again next week,” Hataoka told ESPN.
Jennifer Kupcho
Of course, this article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the recent winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Skysports details how Kupcho produced a sensational finish to claim the inaugural edition of the tournament with a four-shot victory, overcoming difficulties that included a migraine and blurry vision from the 8th to 11th hole, that almost dashed her title dreams. She then sealed the victory with a long-range birdie putt to achieve a five-under 67, taking her a final 10-under 206. At only 21 years old, Kupcho bears the distinction of being the first woman to win at the Augusta National. Augusta is a venue that bwin Sports notes other top talent in golf have looked to crack, and failed due to how difficult it is to play. On top of it all, she is now also the world’s number one ranked woman’s amateur golfer.