By: Max Bechtoldt
There have been 22 total winners on the LPGA Tour in 2023. We have seen superstars like Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko add to their resumes, while Celine Boutier and Hyo Joo Kim have taken their games to the next level. But when you look at the overall story of the season, it lies in the first time winners.
Of those 22 winners on tour this season, 13 have been first-time winners. The variety has been jarring as well. Seven of these winners, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang, Allisen Corpuz, Elizabeth Szokol, Alexa Pano, Megan Khang and Angel Yin, are American. Of the six others, Ruoning Yin, Grace Kim, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Linn Grant, Chanettee Wannasaen and Hae Ran Ryu, represent five different countries.
Some of these wins have launched players to the top of the Rolex Rankings and CME Standings, like Ruoning Yin and Lilia Vu, who both have multiple victories this season including a major. Others show flashes of superstar potential, like Allisen Corpuz, Rose Zhang and Linn Grant. Some were a sneak peak of what a young prodigy can do, like Alexa Pano and Chanettee Wannasaen. Some, like Megan Khang and Angel Yin, were long awaited.
The youth on the LPGA Tour has maybe reached its current peak, with four of these winners, Zhang, Pano, Yin and Wannasaen being age 20 or younger at the time of their first victory.
These players have won in all formats. Anannarukarn won the matchplay event. Szokol won alongside Cheyenne Knight at the team event. Ryu won in a three-day tournament in Arkansas. Corpuz’s first win came on the 18th green at Pebble Beach. Zhang’s win came a week after competing in her final college event. Pano won in a tournament featuring LPGA, LET and DP World Tour players.
The young players on the LPGA Tour have kept this season unpredictable, and one of the most fun in recent seasons. Yes, it is fun when the superstars dominate, but discovering new stars creates a deeper league.
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