For the first time in her young LPGA career, Ariya Jutanugarn will be announced as “defending champion” when she steps to the tee on Thursday at the Kingmill Championship Presented by JTBC. Jutanugarn captured the 2016 Kingsmill Championship for her second career victory; however, this is her first title defense as the Yokohama Tire Classic, site of her first LPGA victory the week prior, is no longer on the Tour schedule.
“I have a great memory here last year,” said the 21-year-old from Thailand, who is in her third season on Tour. “I like everything here. I love to come back here. I love the course. The course always in a great shape.”
Jutanugarn followed her 2016 Kingsmill win with yet another victory the next week at the LPGA Volvik Championship, and she tacked on titles at the RICOH Women’s British Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to round out her breakthrough 2016 with five wins. Though she has come close, she hasn’t been able to get back to the winner’s circle since that August day in Canada, earning 14 top-10 finishes in the 18 events since that win (including three runner-up finishes this year).
While coming so close and not getting the win might prove difficult to many players, Jutanugarn relies on her work with the Vision54 team Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, not to mention the constant support from her sister Moriya and mother Apple, to keep her on the right path. In a week when Jutanugarn could add World No. 1 to her list of accomplishments, that support is crucial to such a young player.
“I feel like Pia and Lynn keep telling me all the time, that like no matter my ranking going to be, they going to give me full support,” said Jutanugarn, who currently sits at World No. 3 behind Lydia Ko and So Yeon Ryu. “That makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about the outcome. The only thing I have to do is go have fun. Especially my mom and my sister, I mean, I just feel like even I’m not win or anything going to happen in my life, I’m going to get full support from them.”
CHASING NO. 1
Rolex Rankings No. 2 So Yeon Ryu and No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn are looking to be the 10th different player to reach No. 1 since the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings began in 2006. Both players will try to achieve this in the coming weeks, as only 0.2 points separates them from the top ranking, currently held by Lydia Ko
On May 8, 2017, Ko reached the milestone of 100 total weeks at No. 1. Before Ko, only Lorena Ochoa (158) and Yani Tseng (109) had experienced this achievement in their careers.
No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings
| Last Three Years | No. of weeks | |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 26, 2015 |
Lydia Ko | 82 << |
| June 15, 2015 | Inbee Park | 19 |
| Feb. 15, 2015 | Lydia Ko | 19 |
| Oct. 27, 2014 | Inbee Park | 14 |
| June 2, 2014 | Stacy Lewis | 21 |
>> Active streak of 82 consecutive weeks at No. 1 for Lydia Ko
QUOTABLE
“No matter my ranking going to be, they going to love me the same.”
- Ariya Jutanugarn talking about her family and the pressure of chasing No. 1
“I feel like she can win this year, and I really want to see that.”
- Ariya Jutanugarn on sister Moriya, who has eight top-25 finishes this season
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Kingsmill Resort sponsors the Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC in order to continue the long history of golf championships at Kingsmill Resort. This year will be the 34th LPGA or PGA event held on the River Course at Kingsmill. Also to support tourism in Williamsburg, the surrounding region and Virginia with what will be the largest sporting event in the area this year, and raise money for local charities and promote community involvement.
QUICK HITS
In 10 starts in 2017, Ariya Jutanugarn has posted eight top-nine finishes, including three runner-up finishes (HSBC Women’s Champions, Bank of Hope Founders Cup, Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Match Play presented by Aeromexico and Delta)
In three appearances at Kingsmill, Jutanugarn has won (2016), missed the cut (2015) and tied for third (2013)
This season, Jutanugarn ranks in the top three in five statistical categories:
- first in birdies (157)
- second in rounds in the 60s (20)
- second in rounds under par (30)
- third in birdie to bogey ratio (2.58)
- third in sand saves (0.714)
Heading into the Kingsmill Championship, Jutanugarn is ranked second on the season money list ($669,999), second in the Race to the CME Globe (1,525) and third in Rolex Player of the Year points (60)
World No. 2 So Yeon Ryu has four top-10 finishes at Kingsmill, and she has an active streak of 10 consecutive top 10s dating back to the 2016 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia
Jutanugarn has spent 36 career weeks at No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings, while this week marks Ryu’s sixth career week at No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings
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