It can’t keep going forever … right?
That’s what common sense, not to mention mathematics or years of golf history, would have you believe. And yet, another week has gone by, another LPGA tournament played, and yet another unique winner lifted the trophy.
The LPGA Tour has hosted 26 events this season and all 26 have been won by different players. This week’s winner at the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii? Sponsor invite Youmin Hwang, who isn’t even an LPGA Tour member. And she won’t be an LPGA Tour member until 2026. She elected to defer her full membership benefits to next year.
In the meantime, the streak goes on. All the way from A Lim Kim’s victory in February, through the majors season to now, eight months later. There was a Lydia Ko win, a Charley Hull win, victories from three Swedes, five Japanese players and a handful of Americans. World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul grabbed one, as expected, but not two. She’s finished second four times, including her last two starts, trying her best to nullify this streak but finding herself barely unsuccessful.
What this streak ultimately means for the Tour is a bit of a Rorschach test. On one hand, 26 different winners shows an immense level of parity, which most sports leagues would love to see. On the other, without a clear, multi-time winner, not only do we not have a clue who should be considered the Player of the Year, but there isn’t a dominant star that places the LPGA in front of new audiences. (Coincidentally, 26 is the record for most unique winners in LPGA Tour history.)
Maybe the most stunning element of 26 different winners in 26 weeks is that Nelly Korda — last season’s seven-time winner — isn’t one of them. Korda hasn’t necessarily struggled this year; she just hasn’t played at the winning level we’ve come to expect. She admitted to nursing a few injuries that won’t quite go away, but will still be the favourite for anyone who wants this crazy streak to continue.
For those who want 27 unique winners, the LPGA heads from Hawaii to Shanghai, China. Sei Young Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn, Nasa Hataoka and Gaby Lopez have had the most success this year and not broken through.
This article originated on Golf.com
