By: Max Bechtoldt
The year-long Race to the CME Globe is rapidly winding down, with the top 60 players in the rankings advancing to the CME Championship, where the winner will take the top prize. Each of the following five players are going to be playing in the finals, held in Naples, Florida.
- Nelly Korda – To little surprise, Nelly Korda does lead the season-long standings, with her six wins, including the Chevron Championship. She will be the top player, with a massive lead having earned over 3,735 points. Her runner-up finish at the AIG Women’s Open added a lot, because the majors do offer more points than a standard LPGA Tour event.
- Lydia Ko – While Ko’s Olympic gold medal does not count for the CME Standings, her impressive recent play has moved her steadily up the rankings. She won the first event of the year, and came in second week two, before a quiet few months. That all changed with a win at the AIG Women’s Open and the Kroger Queen City Championship. Ko is the only player other than Korda with three or more wins, and has 2,500 points on the season.
- Ayaka Furue – While Furue has only won a single event this year, it was an important one, her first career major at the Evian Championship. Furue is really this high because of her remarkable consistency in 2024. In 19 events she has 10 top-10 finishes, with five of those being top-five finishes. Furue has only missed one cut in 2024, so she’s earning some points every week, adding to her 2,303 point total.
- Haeran Ryu – Probably the most surprising name on this top five, Ryu hasn’t won a major, and she’s only had one win on the season, but really nobody plays as well on a consistent basis. In 20 events she also has 10 top-10 finishes, with a startling seven top-fives. The 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year is currently on a bit of a hot streak, with top-three finishes in her last two starts, including a win at the FM Championship, bringing her point total to 2,259.
- Lauren Coughlin – The breakout star of the 2024 LPGA Tour season has been 31-year-old Lauren Coughlin. Coughlin has notched her first two career wins in this season, while putting herself in contention seemingly every week. In 21 starts, Coughlin has missed five cuts, but she has eight top-10 finishes. In addition to her two wins, she has two additional top fives. Coughlin has built up 2,034 points, placing her as the fifth and final person to reach that plateau.
