By: Max Bechtoldt
The new Rolex Rankings are out, and they reveal a tight race for three potential members of the United States Olympic team.
Already locked on the team are Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, who are the world No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, and by a wide margin. Joining them will be Rose Zhang, ranked No. 9 in the world and barring anything unforeseen in recent memory, will stay in the top 15.
The Olympic rule states that a team may have up to four players, if there are four players in the top 15 in the world rankings at the end of the qualifying period. That leaves Megan Khang (16), Alison Lee (18) and Ally Ewing (19) fighting for a potential fourth and final spot. The final week of qualifying is this week at the third major of the year, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Megan Khang is just two weeks removed from a runner-up finish at the ShopRite LPGA, which somehow didn’t even cause her to move up a single spot. Khang has had an up-and-down LPGA Tour season with four top-15 finishes but also three missed cuts. She does have a strong recent track record in majors with six top-10 finishes since 2020.
Alison Lee has continued to play, for the most part, consistent and strong golf with three top-10 finishes including this past week at the Meijer LPGA Classic where she finished in eighth. Lee still hasn’t won in her LPGA career but has played some of the best golf in the world over the last two seasons.
Then comes Ally Ewing, the hottest player on this list currently who just three weeks ago seemed like a long shot. Well, with great finishes at the U.S. Women’s Open (T3) and the Meijer (4), she has put herself firmly in the mix. At the start of June, Ewing was ranked No. 36 in the world, so her steep climb has been unlikely but impressive.
None of these three players have represented the United States at the Olympics before, so it should be on their mind when they tee it up this weekend.
