The LPGA is hot at the minute and the hottest players seem to be the youngest, making this year’s U.S. Open an absolute battle of the young guns. The top two players in the women’s game are heading to Corde Valle Golf Club in San Martin feeling confident and ready to tackle the third of five majors this year.
So will Lydia Ko or Brooke Henderson be able to capture the U.S. Women’s Open title? Even if it’s not one of these two – the rivalry between them is heating up! Check out why they’re the top players to watch this week in California (and it’s not just because they’re World Number 1 and 2!).
Lydia Ko
World Number One Lydia Ko is at the top of everyone’s list. At just 19, the Callaway player has broken more records then we can name and already has two major titles and 18 career wins (four of which came in 2016).
She is smart and calm on the golf course, making her a fierce competitor. But she continues to do it all with a smile and never seems to get too caught up in the stress of it all.
After winning her second major at this year’s ANA Inspiration Ko told reporters the key to her success is “fun.”
“I think fun is underrated. Obviously we need to be serious out there, and you need to try your best and you need to focus, but at the same time you’ve got to have fun because we’re out there for a long time, four-and-a-half- or five-hour rounds, practise before then, practise after, and it takes a lot of time.”
Ko heads into today’s third major in San Martin a definite favourite. She has expressed her love for the west coast courses stating they remind her of home in New Zealand.
“When you go to places that aren’t home but feel a lot like home, it makes a difference,” Ko told reporters earlier this week.
Here’s hoping the “homelike” feel helps secure the New Zealander her third major win!
Brooke Henderson
This Canadian golfer is making waves on the LPGA Tour. Beating out Ko last month at the Women’s PGA Championship to win her first major title, Brooke Henderson is now hoping to secure her second!
Fresh off her win last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic (she also won this tournament in 2015), Henderson heads to California confident in her ability. And while the 18-year-old admits she didn’t have her A game throughout last week’s event, she’s happy to know she can still get the win when she’s not at her top performance level.
“I think I’ll get a lot of confidence knowing that I can compete against the best in the world when I don't necessarily have my best game,” she said after Sunday’s win.
Ko and Henderson will tee off today alongside American Lexi Thompson.
