Three major championships, a new RAMA winner, Player of the Year, The Solheim Cup and more are coming up in the back half of 2015. Here are the top-5 moments to look out for as we make the turn into the second half of the season.
5. Rookie Race
The 2015 LPGA Tour rookies have been incredible to watch this season. Sei Young Kim burst onto the scene, already a two-time winner this season with four more top-6 finishes. She currently leads the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings, ahead of Hyo Joo Kim who won the JTBC Founders Cup. Minjee Lee is currently third on the rookie list having won the Monday finish at the Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC.
The rookies have clearly proven themselves as winners this season on Tour so it would come as no surprise to see one clinch a major championship as well. Sei Young Kim finished T-4 at the ANA Inspiration and runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The last rookie to win a major in their first season on Tour was Anna Nordqvist in 2009 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
4. Michelle Wie Defends at U.S. Women’s Open
In what was one of the most exciting major championships in recent memory on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie broke through at Pinehurst to win her first major championship at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. While Wie has struggled this season with illness and injury, she will again be exciting to watch as she tries to defend at Lancaster Country Club and try to clinch her first win of 2015.
3. Career Grand Slam for Park?
Coming off her third consecutive win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the possibility of Inbee Park achieving the Career Grand Slam seems closer to becoming a reality. Park is winner of the 2013 ANA Inspiration and two-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Open in 2008 and 2013. She also clinched the Evian Championship in 2012, but before it was considered a major championship. Park needs just the Ricoh Women’s British Open and Evian Championship titles to complete the slam.
Park finished runner-up at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 2012 and fourth last year. She was T-10 at the 2014 Evian Championship.
2. A First Major for Lydia?
Lydia Ko has played very well in the majors. The 18-year old continues to search for her first major title and with a final round 63 Sunday at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship she looks to be rounding back into form just in time for the third major of the year, the U.S. Women’s Open. Ko finished T-15 last year at Pinehurst and T-8 at the Evian Championship. The number two ranked player in the world will be someone to watch at the final three majors of the year as she looks to notch her third win of the season on the LPGA Tour.
1. The Solheim Cup
One of the most exciting events in sports returns this September with Team U.S.A. trying to win back the cup from Team Europe who has won the event in back-to-back years. This year’s event is on European soil at the St. Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany September 18 – 20, 2015.
Juli Inkster captains Team U.S.A. in their attempt to bring the Cup back to America with Carin Koch leading Team Europe. Here’s a look at the current standings:
Team U.S.A.:
Stacy Lewis
Lexi Thompson
Michelle Wie
Cristie Kerr
Brittany Lincicome
Morgan Pressel
Angela Stanford
Gerina Piller
Paula Creamer
Jessica Korda
+ 2 Captain’s Picks
Team Europe:
Gwladys Nocera
Suzann Pettersen
Charley Hull
Carlota Ciganda
Anna Nordqvist
Azahara Munoz
Sandra Gal
Catriona Matthew
+ 4 Captain’s Picks
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