The time has come, with just two weeks to go until the first tee shot of the LPGA Tour season is hit, take a look at some of the players who could see a big-time breakout in 2026 (not including rookies).
No. 5 – Gina Kim – While Gina Kim is new to the LPGA Tour in 2026 after a stint on the Epson Tour, she isn’t a rookie, having played from 2022-2024. In that time, she accumulated just one top-10 finish and no wins. Now, she is returning after a strong season on the Epson Tour, where she led in wins with three. Kim comes back now with more experience in 2026 and should be more consistent.
No. 4 – Minami Katsu – In all the hype around young, Japanese golfers, Katsu has gotten lost in the mix a little bit it feels like. In three years on Tour, Katsu has 10 top-10 finishes, with six of those coming in 2025. She also made 24/27 cuts last season and finished No. 18 in the CME Standings. She played well on the Asian swing which propelled her season after a runner-up finish at the AIG Women’s Open. I would expect her to get in the winner’s circle in 2026 and be a real force out there.
No. 3 – Stephanie Kyriacou – This feels like yet another year of waiting for the Stephanie Kyriacou breakout. Over her four years on Tour, Kyriacou has put together 11 top-10 finishes, and seemingly has gotten better every year. She had a career high 18 made cuts in 2025 and five top-10 finishes. She was also a member of the Australian team that won the International Crown. She’s got all of the skills to be a top player, it is just time to get some individual titles.
No. 2 – Lucy Li – While Lucy Li has been popular since her 2014 start at the U.S. Women’s Open at 11-years-old, it can be easy to forget that she is now entering just her fourth year on the LPGA Tour. After a 2024 season carried by a couple top-five finishes, her spot in the CME Standings fell in 2025, getting into the CME Tour Championship field at the last minute. That being said, she showed some more consistency, making a career-high 20 cuts. She had just one individual top-10, but it came at The Annika. Overall, the end of her year was very solid. She, like Rose Zhang was splitting time between professional golf and school, but with her recent graduation, more of the focus will probably be on her game in 2026.
No. 1 – Auston Kim – In two seasons on the LPGA Tour, Kim has a plethora of success. She has eight top-10 finishes and 39 cuts made. Though she showed some inconsistency, 2025 felt like a real step forward for one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour. She finished runner up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and she finished the year with top seven finishes in her last two events. She feels like a safe bet to get her first career win in the new year and it would come at a good time, as she should be at least in heavy discussion to make the Solheim Cup team.
