Auston Kim might have come up short in Bradenton, Fla., missing out on her first LPGA Tour win in her rookie debut, but she still had the move of the week, jumping 123 spots in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to No. 212, the highest rank of her career.
The 2023 Epson Tour graduate was one of nine graduates in the field last week at the LPGA Drive On Championship, having secured LPGA Tour status for the 2024 season after winning the Epson Tour Championship last October to finish third in the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card. She ultimately finished in a tie for sixth at Bradenton Country Club.
After her final round, the Florida native was asked about the emotions of playing in her first LPGA Tour event as a member, admitting that while it was a stressful week, she was grateful to be able to play golf for a living.
“It was a very stressful week, I’m not going to lie,” said Kim. “I felt a lot of emotions coming down the last six holes. I’m so grateful to be able to do this for a living. I didn’t think I was going to get this emotional, but I’m so grateful for what I do. I’m so very grateful that this is my job and I have the privilege to be here. I really enjoyed playing golf this week. I had so much fun. I can’t wait to see where this takes me.”
While the season has just begun for the 23-year-old rookie, she is ranked 14th in the Race to the CME Globe standings, second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race, third in scoring average (69.50) and first in average driving distance at 286 yards, not bad for her first event. Keep an eye on Kim this season to rise in the standings.
U. S. Team Looking to Take Back Solheim Cup on Home Turf
The 19th edition of the Solheim Cup takes center stage this September at the beautiful Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., where the best female golfers from the United States and Europe will square off for a chance to claim the most prestigious team title in women’s golf.
The top seven players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings, the top two players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not already eligible, and three captain’s picks will make up the United States team. The European Team will include the top two players in the Europe Solheim Cup standings, the top six players in the Rolex Rankings not already eligible, and four captain’s picks. Both teams will be finalized on Aug. 25, 2024, following the AIG Women’s Open.
Take a look at where players rank in the Solheim Cup standings after the first two events of the 2024 LPGA Tour season:
| U.S. TEAM STANDINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Lilia Vu | 1,338.50 |
| 2 | Nelly Korda | 1,168.50 |
| 3 | Allisen Corpuz | 1,019.00 |
| 4 | Megan Khang | 967.00 |
| 5 | Angel Yin | 784.00 |
| 6 | Ally Ewing | 752.00 |
| 7 | Cheyenne Knight | 699.50 |
| 8 | Rose Zhang | 582.50 |
| 9 | Alison Lee | 569.00 |
| 10 | Andrea Lee | 530.00 |
| TEAM EUROPE STANDINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Charley Hull | 101.75 |
| 2 | Celine Boutier | 94.55 |
| 3 | Ana Pelaez Trivino | 74.00 |
| 4 | Olivia Cowan | 72.05 |
| 5 | Linn Grant | 70.38 |
| 6 | Carlota Ciganda | 67.56 |
| 7 | Anne van Dam | 63.67 |
| 8 | Caroline Hedwall | 63.30 |
| 9 | Maja Stark | 57.63 |
| 10 | Johanna Gustavsson | 56.00 |
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
