LPGA Tour Is Back — Will A Korda-Ko Rivalry Grow In 2022?

The fact of the matter is that women’s golf is growing, it’s thriving and it’s healthy going into 2022 and the LPGA Tour season starts Thursday at posh Lake Nona outside Orlando with an array of winners on display — including world No. 1 Nelly Korda.

The talent pool on the LPGA Tour is getting deeper — there were five different winners of the majors last year from five different countries.  Young Yuka Saso from the Philippines was the surprise winner of the U.S. Open.  Nelly Korda of the good old USA was the not-surprising winner of the PGA along with the Olympic Gold Medal.  Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist prevailed at the Women’s Open Championship, Aussie Minjee Lee took the Evian and Thailand’s Patty Tavatankit won the Dinah Shore/ANA/Chevron or whatever they’re calling it now.  Five majors, five different winners, five countries represented.

Call it a mild upset that South Korean players got shut out of the major championships but don’t look for that to be a trend.

Another factor in the women’s popularity rise is the sprouting rivalry between Nelly as world’s No. 1 and South Korea’s Jin Young Ko.  Ko is a tournament-winning machine and close observers of the game believe those two will be swapping places in the rankings more than a few times in the coming season.  That being said, this week’s field will be without Ko, leaving Korda to possibly strengthen her hold on the top spot.

Last season was a big comeback year for Lydia Ko, who starts 2022 as the world’s No. 3 while Hall Of Famer Inbee Park checks in at No. 4.  Park has hinted at cutting back on her schedule and it will be interesting to see how much she plays this season.  Best player in the women’s word without a major is no doubt Sei Young Kim.  It will be an upset is she doesn’t win one of the majors this season.

Danielle Kang used to be a staple in the world’s top five and she’ll start 2022 at No. 10.  She’s been working hard with Butch Harmon and this is the year she needs to show significant improvement to get back to where she used to be.

Another significant change for the women is the money.  This season, 10 events have announced purse increases.  Sponsors are showing up in a good way.  The U.S. Open will feature historical money.  Players will compete for a mind-boggling $10 million.  That comes via presenting sponsor, ProMedica.

At the year end, the CME Group Tour Championship will continue to write the biggest winner’s check in the game when they award an increased $2 million to the winner in the season finale.

Yes, women’s golf is hitting new heights.  Thanks to new young faces, some great course venues and growing rivalries between players who will be around for a while, the game is trending up, way up.

Yuka Saso Chooses Japanese Citizenship:

When reigning U.S. Open champ Yuka Saso tees it up at Lake Nona on Thursday, it will be as a Japanese citizen.  Yes, she’s now representing Japan.

She previously had dual citizenship but Japanese law requires that dual citizens have to pick one when they turn 22.  For Saso, it was a business decision given how popular golf is in Japan, there will be more lucrative sponsorship deals available to her.