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LPGA rookies to watch in 2023

LPGA rookies to watch in 2023

It’s not often that an LPGA rookie rises to No. 1 in the world, but Atthaya Thitikul proved to be a special player last season. Will anyone be able to make such a strong showing in 2023?

This year’s rookie class is once again highly global. In fact, an American hasn’t won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award since Paula Creamer in 2005.

There are, however, a couple of American hotshots who made headlines before they graduated from elementary school in the 2023 rookie class. Could Lucy Li or Alexa Pano break that drought?

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

Lucy Li of the USA tees off on the first hole during the first round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics at Massereene Golf Club on August 11, 2022 in Galgorm, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)

Lucy Li made headlines when she competed in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst, and now she’s finally made it to the big show. The 20-year-old won twice on the Epson Tour and tied for 16th at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. Li led the Epson Tour in scoring at 69.389 and finished T-4 at the LPGA’s Dana Open.

Hae Ran Ryu of South Korea celebrates after birdie on the twelfth hole during the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on October 23, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

South Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu took medalist honors at LPGA Q-Series, finishing at 29 under. The KLPGA player came into the event ranked 50th in the world and broke 70 in six of the eight rounds. The 21-year-old was the 2020 KLPGA Rookie of the Year and 2018 Korean Women’s Amateur champion.

Alexa Pano of the United States hits a tee shot during the final round of the 2022 LPGA Q-Series – Dothan at Highland Oaks Golf Course on December 11, 2022 in Dothan, Alabama. (Photo by Hannah Ruhoff/Getty Images)

Alexa Pano, 18, finished tied for 21st at LPGA Q-Series to earn her card. The former Netflix star, known for her role in the documentary, “The Short Game,” became the youngest golfer (age 11) to play a JLPGA Tour event at the 2016 Yonex Ladies Open. Pano made the cut in 16 of 18 starts on the Epson Tour with five top-10 finishes last season.

 

Minami Katsu of Japan reacts to her tee shot during the final round of the 2022 LPGA Q-Series – Dothan at Highland…

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