When Michael Whan took over as Commissioner of the LPGA in 2010, one of his initial goals was the make the LPGA a “global tour.” Whan is no longer with the LPGA, having left last year after 11 seasons, but it has never been more apparent how successful he was in achieving that goal.
The LPGA had a record breaking fourteen countries that had at least one player that won a tournament in 2022. Yes, it was surely a year to remember in women’s golf.
For the second consecutive year the USA was the country with the most wins. Its eight wins were double any other country. Here is a list of every country that had a winner this year:
United States – (8 wins) – Jennifer Kupcho (3 wins, one with Lizette Salas as partner), Danielle Kang, Marina Alex, Ally Ewing, Andrea Lee, Nelly Korda.
Republic of Korea (4) – Jin Young Ko, Hyo-Joo Kim, Eun-Hee Ji, In Gee Chun
New Zealand (3) – Lydia Ko (3 wins)
Thailand (2) – Atthaya Thitikul (2wins)
Japan (2) – Nasa Hataoka, Ayaka Furue
Australia (2) – Minjee Lee (2 wins)
Canada (2) – Brooke Henderson (2 wins)
South Africa (2) – Ashleigh Buhai, Paula Reto
England (2) – Charley Hull, Jodi Ewart Shadoff
Ireland (1) – Leona Maguire
Denmark (1) – Nanna Koerstz Madsen
Sweden (1) – Maja Stark
Mexico (1) – Gaby Lopez
Scotland (1) – Gemma Dryburgh
Major Champions
There were also five major championship winners from five different countries:
The Chevron Championship – Jennifer Kupcho – USA
U.S Women’s Open – Minjee Lee – Australia
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – In Gee Chun – Republic of Korea
Amundi Evian Championship – Brooke Henderson – Canada
AIG British Open – Ashleigh Buhai – South Africa
Yes, it was quite the year to remember.
First Time Winners
There were also a record breaking eleven first time winners:
Leona Maguire – LPGA Drive on Championship
Nanna Koerstz Madsen – Honda LPGA Thailand
Atthaya Thitikul – JTBC Classic and Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
Jennifer Kupcho – The Chevron Championship, Meijer LPGA Classic, Dow Great lakes
Ayaka Furue – Trust Women’s Scottish Open
Ashleigh Buhai – AIG Women’s Open
Maja Stark – ISPS Handa World International
Paula Reto – CP Women’s Open
Andrea Lee – Portland Classic
Jodi Ewart Shadsoff – LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
Gemma Dryburgh – Toto Japan Classic
The Rolex Player of the Year was Lydia Ko
The Vare trophy was won by Lydia Ko
The Rolex Rookie of the Year award was won by Atthaya Thitikul
Lydia Ko and Jennifer Kupcho led the tour in wins with three
Atthaya Thitikul had the most top tens with sixteen
Lydia Ko led the tour in putting with 1.72 putts per greens in regulation
Maria Fassi was the longest driver on tour averaging 279.3 yards
The player who finished the highest on the money list (6th) without a win – Hye-Jin Choi
The player that finished the lowest on the money list with a win (49th) Nanna Koerts Madsen
Other Notes
Lydia Ko picked up two more Hall of Fame points at the end of the season for winning Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy. She now has 25 points. Twenty-seven is needed for induction.
There were five players who did not miss a cut all season on the LPGA Tour: Lydia Ko, Hye-Jin Choi, Hannah Green, Georgia Hall, and Danielle Kang.
The final field of eight countries for the 2023 Hanwa Lifeplus International Crown is now set.The eight countries were determined by the combined Rolex Women’s World Rankings of the top four players from each country as of November 21st.The USA and Korea tied with 35 points followed by Japan (85), Sweden (120), Thailand (183), England (187), Australia (298), and the Republic of China (446). South Africa just missed getting in with 475. The players that will represent each country have not yet been determined. That will be finalized on April 23, 2023. The top four Rolex ranked players from each country on that day will qualify.
The LPGA announced their 2023 schedule. There will be 33 official tournaments plus the Solheim Cup and the International Crown. They will be playing for a record breaking $101.4 million.
Congratulations should also be given out to Linn Grant who was the winner of the Costa Del Sol title, which is given to the player of the year on the Ladies European Tour.
Feature Photo
Lydia Ko at the 2022 US Women’s Open. All photos by Ben Harpring.
