The words held most dear don’t live in isolation but gain meaning from the surrounding world. Love, beauty, freedom are among those concepts that lack singular definition but are determined relatively. It’s an eye-of-the-beholder thing. Greatness is another such concept. And the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship could go a long way in setting the context for that standard on the LPGA.
To say that women’s golf is awash in talent right now is an understatement. The great Mickey Wright said: “Every star needs a chorus line.” What the LPGA has is not a chorus line in lowercase letters but rather the uppercase cast from the musical “A Chorus Line” where star turns abound.
Sorting out the favorites at Hazeltine National, a venue that is a star in its own right, is simultaneously simple and difficult. Many among the 156 in the field are playing well enough to win, which makes settling on one or even a few nearly impossible.
Consider this: It’s been two years and 10 tournaments since the LPGA has had a repeat winner in a major. Through 15 events this year there have been 13 winners with Jin Young Ko and Brooke Henderson the only two-time champs.
And since June 12, 2017, six players have reached No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings with 10 lead changes, Ariya Jutanugarn and Sung Hyun Park each holding the top spot three times. So Yeon Ryu, Shanshan Feng, Inbee Park and current No. 1, Jin Young Ko, have all reached the top. The math shows that seven players could emerge this week as Rolex No. 1
Ko, who hit No. 1 after backing up her victory at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup by taking her first major at the ANA Inspiration, now carries the burden of notoriety.
