Tag: Mao Saigo

Mao Saigo becomes second Japanese player to win LPGA Rookie of the Year

Saigo didn’t win on the LPGA in 2024, but consistent player was highlighted by seven top-10 finishes.

NAPLES, Fla. – Japan’s Mao Saigo became only the second player in LPGA history to clinch the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. Hiromi Kobayashi became the first in 1990.

While Saigo didn’t win on the LPGA this year, her consistent play was highlighted by seven top-10 finishes. She edged South Korea’s Jin Hee Im by 86 points. She tied for 25th at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

Saigo finished runner-up at the CPKC Women’s Open and took a share of second at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Mao Saigo of Japan walks on the third hole during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

“I’m like extremely happy,” she said.

Prior to joining the LPGA, the 23-year-old won six times on the JLPGA.

Mao Saigo holds one-shot lead over Ruoning Yin with 18 holes to play at 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai

Saigo has shot rounds of 68-65-65.

The LPGA’s Asia Swing began this week in China at the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai, and through 54 holes Mao Saigo holds a one-shot lead over Ruoning Yin heading into Sunday’s final round.

After opening with a 4-under 68 on Thursday, Saigo has posted consecutive rounds of 65 to vault to the top of the leaderboard.

She made the turn with a 2-under 34 on Saturday before doing some serious damage on the back nine. From Nos. 12-17, Saigo made three birdies (Nos. 12, 13 and 15) and an eagle (par-5 17th).

Yin, on the other hand, started slowly with a 2-under 70 on Thursday. However, she’s since shot rounds of 66-63 to earn solo second with 18 holes to play. Her 9-under effort on Saturday included seven birdies and an eagle.

Sei Young Kim is solo third at 15 under, three back. Yealimi Noh is alone in fourth at 13 under, five back, while a large group that includes Minjee Lee is tied for fifth at 11 under, seven back.

A dozen LPGA rookies to watch in 2024, including Gabriela Ruffels, a 13-time winner from Japan and the first Russian member

A U.S. player hasn’t won the Rookie of the Year Award since Paula Creamer in 2005.

This year’s rookie class of 26 players represents 12 countries, highlighting the global nature of the LPGA.

One of the most well-known rookies of the 2024 class is former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffels, who many thought would be a veteran by now were it not for a paperwork error. The Aussie topped the Epson Tour’s money list to earn her card.

There are plenty of players who have won multiple titles on their home tours in this year’s class, including a teen from China.

The Class of 2024 includes only five Americans: Gurleen Kaur, Auston Kim, Kaitlin Milligan, Malia Nam and Gigi Still. A U.S. player hasn’t won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award since Paula Creamer in 2005.

Here are a dozen LPGA rookies to keep an eye on in 2023:

Here are 10 players to watch at historic Muirfield, where the AIG Women’s British Open will be contested for the first time

Who’s going to capture the final women’s major of the year?

Whoever wins this week’s AIG Women’s British Open will forever hold a special place in women’s golf history. Three years ago, Muirfield, host of 16 men’s British Opens, invited its first female members in the club’s 275-year history.

The club was actually removed from the R&A’s rota of British Open host venues after a 2016 membership vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to change the rule to admit women.

The membership voted again in 2017 and pushed it through. Needless to say, the final major of 2022 carries great significance.

Jennifer Kupcho, winner of the first female event ever hosted at Augusta National, won the final Chevron Championship at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course to kick off major season. Minjee Lee’s dominant performance at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles followed.

Then, In Gee Chun nabbed her third different major at the KPMG Women’s PGA, and two weeks ago, the Amundi Evian saw Brooke Henderson snap a six-year drought between her first and second major titles.

Here’s a look at 10 players to keep an eye on at Muirfield: