By: Max Bechtoldt
The men’s Olympic golf competition kicks off late tonight (or tomorrow morning more accurately) but the official coverage for the women’s competition begins now, one week out. We have been introducing players from various countries since the field was made official. Now, we will be ranking the players most likely to get on the medal stand in Paris three at a time. So today, here are players 30-28:
31. Ashleigh Buhai – South Africa – This shouldn’t be counted so much as a slight against Buhai’s game, more so concerns of injury. Buhai has been dealing with injury issues over the last month, forcing her to withdraw from the Evian Championship and miss the last two events on the LPGA Tour schedule. Buhai is a two-time winner on Tour, including a major at the 2022 AIG Women’s Open. She also has four additional wins on the LET and has won against strong fields five times since 2022.
30. Paula Reto – South Africa – A double dip of South African players here to begin the countdown, Reto may not have the most high results, but she is remarkably consistent as of late. She hasn’t missed a cut since May, and has posted five top-25 finishes in her last seven starts. Reto has made the cut in all three majors she has played in so far this year and won her only LPGA Tour event in 2022 at the CPKC Women’s Open.
29. Emily Kristine Pedersen – Denmark – From consistent to perhaps the least consistent player on the LPGA Tour, when Pedersen brings her a-game, she is without a doubt one of the best in the world. She proved that in Tokyo, finishing in a tie for fifth. This season she has seven missed cuts on the LPGA Tour, but she also has a pair of top-10 finishes. Pedersen is known for showing up on the world stage, as she has been spectacular in the last two Solheim Cups for Europe.
