In the beginning of 2023, we printed six daring predictions for the upcoming LPGA season. This is how they turned out.
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Identical to that, the 2023 LPGA season is coming to a detailed.
Ten months after kicking off the enjoying calendar at Lake Nona, the LPGA is again in Florida this week because it closes out the yr on the CME Group Tour Championship. And whereas it feels just like the season occurred in a blink, there’s been loads of intrigue since January.
Earlier than the season started, I put collectively 6 bold predictions to look at for this season. Now, because the season involves a detailed, it’s time to look again and see which prognostications I nailed and botched.
Nailed ’em!
1. Lydia Ko doesn’t win in 2023
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Prediction: Lydia Ko discovered her outdated type in 2022, profitable thrice and incomes Participant of the 12 months honors. However whereas 2022 was a convincing success, it won’t essentially portend to a different banner yr. During the last two months, Ko went by means of a few huge life modifications. First, she break up with swing coach Sean Foley, whom she credited as being “greater than only a swing coach.” And second, she got married over the quick offseason. These have been two seismic shifts in Ko’s life, and whereas the 2 life occasions don’t mechanically spell doom for her golf recreation, it’s exhausting to not marvel how she is going to reply on the course.
End result: Sadly for Ko, this prediction turned out true. Regardless of a return to world No. 1 final fall, the 26-year-old couldn’t proceed the momentum into 2023. She went winless on the LPGA for the primary time since 2020, recorded simply two prime 10s and, shockingly, didn’t qualify for the Tour Championship. Ko did win in February on the Girls European Tour, however coming off a stellar 2022, this season was a disappointment on the course.
2. Rose Zhang contends in a serious
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Prediction: Rose Zhang shocked many final summer season when she announced her intention to return to Stanford for her sophomore season, however that doesn’t imply we received’t see her teeing it up in some professional occasions this season. Due to her title because the No. 1-ranked newbie, Zhang is all however assured to make some look among the many recreation’s elite this season — together with at majors. The 19-year-old has already performed in 10 majors in her younger profession, and he or she made the minimize in all three appearances final season. If she performs her means into any of the majors in 2023, it could not be shocking in any respect to see her contend for the title.
End result: Zhang’s skilled debut (and subsequent win) was one of many greatest tales of the summer season. Simply weeks after claiming the NCAA title, the 20-year-old stepped into the brilliant lights at Liberty Nationwide and received in her first begin as knowledgeable. However her success didn’t cease there. Over her subsequent 4 begins, Zhang performed in three majors, ending within the prime 10 every time. Not unhealthy for a child recent out of school.
3. Workforce Europe wins third straight Solheim Cup
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Prediction: Workforce USA leads the all-time Solheim Cup sequence report 10-7, however as of late, the European aspect has dominated the biennial crew competitors. The Euros are winners of two straight Solheim Cups heading into 2023 — together with a gutsy 15-13 win at Inverness in 2021 — and so they’ll have the home-course benefit this fall. With a lot of the 2021 nucleus seeking to qualify as soon as once more this yr, the European girls will probably be a troublesome out at Finca Cortesin in 2023.
End result: Okay, Workforce Europe didn’t technically win the Solheim Cup (the match resulted in a 14-14 tie), however retaining the Cup was nonetheless successful. After falling behind 4-0 early to the People, Workforce Europe rallied behind captain Suzanne Peterson with an epic Sunday cost. Veteran Swede Caroline Hedwall wrote her identify in Solheim Cup lore together with her impressed singles efficiency, whereas Carlota Ciganda clinched the tying level in her house nation. With the competitors headed again to the States subsequent yr, Stacy Lewis and Workforce USA will probably be seeking to finish a seven-year winless streak.
Botched ’em!
1. Lexi Thompson (lastly) wins one other main
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Prediction: Lexi Thompson has shortly change into one of the tragic figures in golf. Whereas as soon as she was a can’t-miss prospect and the way forward for the sport in America, she is now a big-name with an even bigger checklist of what-ifs. She hasn’t received on the LPGA Tour since 2019, and seemingly yearly is full of extra heartbreak (see: 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA). However the factor is, her expertise hasn’t gone wherever. Thompson remains to be among the best ball-strikers on the planet, and he or she at all times appears to raise her recreation in majors. Regardless of not profitable a giant one in nearly a decade, she’s been on the brink many instances. She has 14(!) top-10s in majors since 2015, together with six top-fives over the past 4 years. If Thompson retains placing herself on the entrance web page of leaderboards on Sundays, she’s sure to breakthrough ultimately. This may very well be the yr.
End result: Thompson bought off to a horrendous begin this season as she made simply two cuts earlier than September and completed no higher than T31. Issues bought higher within the fall as she racked up three prime 10s, went 3-1-0 within the Solheim Cup and made her debut on the PGA Tour, however a win by no means materialized. It wasn’t the best season for the celebrity, however she’ll have some optimistic momentum heading into 2024.
2. Nelly Korda wins thrice
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Prediction: Nelly Korda had a tough go of it in 2022, lacking a number of months with a severe blood clot and failing to duplicate her monster 2021. However the way in which she completed out final season offers loads of causes for optimism. Korda completed within the prime 10 in three straight occasions to shut out the yr — together with a win on the Pelican Championship — as she lastly appeared to shake the rust that plagued her for a lot of the summer season. Now a yr into her tutelage below GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan, Korda is poised to have one other dominant season in 2023.
End result: I used to be shopping for all of the Nelly Korda inventory heading into 2023, however that funding by no means materialized. Korda began the yr with a bang as she signed with Nike and TaylorMade, however harm troubles but once more plagued the 25-year-old. Her time with Mulligan was additionally short-lived as she was seen working with GOLF Prime 100 Instructor Jason Baile mid-way by means of the season. Irrespective of, Korda couldn’t discover the winner’s circle and fell properly in need of her dominant 2021 benchmarks.
3. Atthaya Thitikul wins Participant of the 12 months
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Prediction: For those who don’t know the identify Atthaya Thitikul, get accustomed to it. The 19-year-old received LPGA Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2022, and completed within the prime 5 within the Participant of the 12 months race. She received twice in her debut season, and he or she didn’t miss a single minimize within the course of. Now a yr older and wiser, Thitikul is poised to change into one of many greatest stars within the ladies’s recreation. If she will be able to construct off her profitable rookie marketing campaign, {the teenager} has the potential to be the highest canine on the LPGA Tour in 2023.
End result: After her Rookie of the 12 months marketing campaign in 2022, Thitikul appeared poised to take the subsequent step into superstardom. And whereas the 20-year-old has loads of time to satisfy that potential, 2023 was not that yr. Her stats have been stable in her sophomore marketing campaign when she posted 11 prime 10s, however she completed properly behind Lilia Vu within the race for Participant of the 12 months.
