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:
Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand checks the wind direction on the second tee during Day Two of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed at Ullna Golf & Country Club on June 09, 2023 in Sweden. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
A Thai player competed on the Ladies European Tour in 2023, Cheenglab carded five top-10 finishes and a win at the Big Green Egg Open. She finished No. 1 in the Race to Casta del Sol Ranking and was named LET Rookie of the Year.
Alexandra Forsterling of Germany walks off of the 18th tee during the fifth round of LPGA Q-School at Magnolia Grove Golf Course on December 05, 2023 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Former Arizona State player won twice on the LET in 2023 as a rookie: Mallorca Ladies Open and VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open. The 24-year-old German is a three-time winner of the Berlin Open as an amateur (2016, 2017, and 2019).
Nataliya Guseva
An Epson Tour rookie in 2023, the former Miami player won the Black Desert Resort Championship and notched two additional top 10s. The first Russian player to earn an LPGA card, Guseva headed next to LET Q-School, where she dominated the field in Morocco, winning by four shots.
The Russian flag does not appear by Guseva’s name on the LPGA and LET websites because of International Olympic Committee guidelines. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, individuals who qualify from Russia will compete as neutral athletes. No flag, anthem or colors from Russia will be displayed at the Games.
Jin Hee Im of South Korea plays her shot from the third tee during the sixth round of LPGA Q-School at Magnolia Grove Golf Course…
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