By: Max Bechtoldt
Major season is back on the LPGA Tour, where the best women’s golfers in the world will compete for one of the most prestigious titles on the schedule. For the second year in a row, the event will be held at the Club at Carlton Woods in the Houston area. Here are who I believe to be the five players most likely to win the first major of the year:
5. Angel Yin – Yes, Angel Yin is still recovering from a tough leg injury that kept her out of much of the first part of the season. That being said she has a lot going for her. Yin lost in a playoff last year at Chevron, so it is clear that her game fits the course. She also has won her first career event since then, and the confidence boost that gave her was clear. She played well in her first event of 2024, making the final eight at the T-Mobile Match Play. If it weren’t for the injury, she might be in the top two.
4. Lilia Vu – Like Angel Yin, Lilia Vu is recovering from injury problems, but looks to have put those in the rearview mirror for now. The world No. 2 and defending champion has shown some flashes, including a top-10 in Thailand and three solid rounds in Arizona. She is working on two weeks of rest and should be ready to get her season really kick started.
3. Megan Khang – Khang was in the final grouping on Sunday in 2023 before a tough final day, but that tournament overall gave her a lot of momentum for her best season on tour. This year Khang has been solid with three top-15 finishes in five events. Not anything bad enough to be concerned about, but she will undoubtedly be hungry to recapture the momentum she had last year.
2. Lydia Ko – Really, there are only two players I have a high degree of confidence in to win and Ko is one of them. If not for the dominance of Nelly Korda, Ko would be the story of the LPGA season. Ko is No. 2 in the CME Standings, with three top-five finishes in six starts and no missed cuts. Ko is a past champion, and would gain hall of fame eligibility with a win. She seems to be in some of the best form of her illustrious career, which could be a winning formula.
I. Nelly Korda – Like Scottie Scheffler at the 2024 Masters, there seems to be only one real option for the betting favorite. Both are among the best ball strikers to ever play in their respective leagues and are dominant world No. 1 players in peak form. Korda has won the last four events she has played in, through tough weather and changing formats. She’s won in runaways and playoffs. She’s come from behind and been in the final group. Everything is going Korda’s way this season, and I expect that to continue. P.S. Korda finished in third at Chevron in 2023, one shot out of the playoff, and her putter was ice cold.
