By: Max Bechtoldt
Coming into last weekend the most interesting race for the women’s golf Olympic team was already Japan. Yuka Saso blew the race wide open, winning the U.S. Women’s Open and jumping ahead of the frontrunners, clinching a spot, making it even more intriguing.
Currently, Ayaka Furue (above) holds the second Olympic qualifying spot after a runner-up finish at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Furue, despite not having a win this season, has been one of the most consistent players on tour. Furue sits at third in the CME Standings and No. 19 in the world, thanks to seven top-10 finishes in 2024. No. 1 Nelly Korda is the only other player with as many top 10s.
Less familiar to LPGA Tour fans is Miyu Yamashita, who moved up to No. 21 in the world after a runner-up finish on the JLPGA last week. Yamashita is a full-time player on the JLPGA, the second best tour in the world, and really only plays stateside for the majors. She does perform well in those majors though, with top-20 finishes in both the Chevron Championship and U.S. Women’s Open.
That leaves Nasa Hataoka sandwiched between the two at No. 20 in the world. If you asked LPGA fans who the best Japanese player in the world is, most would probably say Hataoka, yet she is currently out of position to make the team. Hataoka has had an up-and-down year, with just two top-10 finishes. Her disqualification for an incorrect scorecard last week may cost her the Olympic spot though. She was in good position, in the top 10 before being eliminated from the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Her finishing with a DQ while Yamashita and Furue finished runner-up was a major swing.
There is still a couple of weeks of qualifying for things to switch between these three bunched up players. Heck with a major, there is a very slight chance that more than two could make the team in theory. In all likelihood it will come down to the two highest ranked Japanese players in the world though, and every stroke will count.
