Because of 2024 injuries, people may forget about how strong Lilia Vu is as a player on the LPGA Tour. If there is one player, who has proven she is clutch and knows how to win on tour, it is Vu.
Lilia Vu’s 2023 season established herself as one of the best players in the world. She had seven top-10 finishes in 19 events and won four times, including major championship victories at the Chevron Championship and AIG Women’s Open. She won the 2023 LPGA Player of the Year, and looked poised to continue her strong play into 2024.
Then the injuries came, dealing with severe back issues that both impacted her game and kept her out of some events. She came storming back, winning the Meijer LPGA Classic and finishing runner-up at both the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. She also clinched the Solheim Cup for Team USA, despite not having a great overall showing.
Now she’s back, presumably healthy for a full season on Tour. While she isn’t mind-blowing statistically, even in her Player of the Year campaign she finished No. 5 in total strokes gained, she has that quality that few others have, she knows how to win, and she knows how to play well on Sunday.
In 2023, Vu led the tour in total strokes gained in round four, and it wasn’t particularly close. Her putting is where you really see the strength, as she improved heavily in rounds three and four in 2024 with the flat stick. That is where Vu thrives the most, ranking top 15 each of the last two seasons on the greens.
Regardless of what the numbers might say, especially ball striking stats, Vu is a fantastic putter who plays at her best on Saturday and Sunday. Expect her to be back in winning contention on a consistent basis in 2025.
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