The International Crown field gets set after the conclusion of the AIG Women’s Open, and some spots could still be up in the air depending on the results. Here are the closest races for each country in the International Crown:
CHINA
It would likely take a top-five finish from Miranda Wang for anything to potentially change here, but the rookie has been in solid form this year. If this was being played next season, Wang would almost certainly make the cut but it looks like time will probably run short. The spot that she would potentially take is Ruixin Liu’s, who sits 52 spots ahead of Wang at No. 124.
WORLD TEAM
Lydia Ko is all but officially locked on this team as the Oceania/Africa representative and despite Brooke Henderson’s gradual slide in the world rankings, it would take a fantastic week from Gaby López or any other challenger to unseat her for the Americas position. The European spot is pretty bunched up, with Celine Boutier leading right now, but Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit, Lottie Woad and Carlota Ciganda are all within 10 spots of her. With them being so highly ranked though, it would likely take top-five finishes for any of those chasers to have a shot. The Asian Spot feels most up for grabs, as Singapore’s Shannon Tan is only 10 spots ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Ling Hsu. They are low enough in the rankings, right around the 100 spot, for that to be very volatile.
SWEDEN
Unless something really crazy happens, the team of Madelene Sagstróm, Maja Stark, Ingrid Lindblad and Linn Grant is the most locked in team in the competition. Grant sits 112 spots ahead of Anna Nordqvist, and even a win for Nordqvist and a missed cut for Grant would almost definitely not be enough. These four can feel pretty comfortable right now.
THAILAND
Thailand is another country where Jeeno Thitikul, Ariya Jutanugarn, Chanettee Wannasaen and Patty Tavatanakit are all pretty safe in their spots. Pajaree Anannarukarn sits 42 spots back of Patty T and it would take probably a win for her to have a shot at moving up enough to make the team.
JAPAN
Japan probably has the most chance for some big-time movement of any country. Between spots 10 and 30 in the rankings, there are six Japanese players looking for the four spots. Right now, Mao Saigo, Rio Takeda, Miyu Yamashita and Ayaka Furue occupy those spots, but the Iwai twins are each within 10 spots of Furue, and solid finishes would probably go a long way to getting them on the team.
AUSTRALIA
Three spots here are all but locked in, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Grace Kim will all be representing Australia at the International Crown. Currently at No. 42, Stephanie Kyriacou would be the fourth player on the team, but Gabi Ruffels sitting at 63 could be in play with a good result. Moving up 21 spots would probably take something close to a win for Ruffels, but it certainly isn’t out of the question, especially considering the form she showed at the Evian Championship.
UNITED STATES
Nelly Korda and Angel Yin are locked in here, being each ranked in the top six. Lauren Coughlin at 14 should be safe as well, especially considering she found some form this past week at the Scottish Open. That leaves the final spot, currently occupied by Lilia Vu. Vu is at 16 in the world, seven spots ahead of Yealimi Noh and is at a tournament she has finished top two in the past two seasons. Noh would need a bad result from Vu and to play fantastic in yet another major to have a chance.
KOREA
Haeran Ryu, Jin Young Ko and Hyo Joo Kim will be on this team. Right now the tightest race is between Hye Jin Choi (21) and Amy Yang (31). As with many of these races, it would probably take a high finish from Yang to challenge for this spot. Choi has been in solid form over the last few weeks, likely to make it difficult for any movement from Yang. Yang did put together a win at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to jump up and make the Olympic team last season, so she does have experience with timely major wins.
