The 2015 rookie class is deep. Like, incredibly deep. While last year's class had a superstar (Lydia Ko), this year's class seems filled with ready-to-win talent. There may be close to ten rookies who could conceivably win in 2015, so it is hard to narrow down the field to just five. In the end, I had to go with my gut and a little bit of my heart to come up with, what I think, are going to be the top finishers in the Rookie Of The Year race. Keep in mind, these are not long term projections. These are who I think could win a tournament right now on the LPGA Tour, and who I think are going to be the main players in the running for the ROY Award.
Honorable Mention: Sadena Parks
I don't have any Symetra Tour graduates in my top 5, mainly because I know very little about them, and partially because I don't really like their chances to win in 2015. Parks will receive the most attention of any of the Symetra graduates, and may be the best of the group, as well. She was a streaky player last year (her rookie season on the Symetra Tour), but when she is on, she can play some lights out golf. It would be a bit of a surprise if Parks won next year, but if anyone from that crop of 10 from the Symetra Tour can steal a trophy, it would be her.
5) Sakura Yokomine
This may be a pick from my heart more than from my brain, seeing as players from Japan have not had a good string of luck lately. I just get the feeling that a change of scenery will be good for Yokomine, the 23 time JLPGA champion. She's played well at the majors, with two top 10's in the US Open, including last year. She's also a longer hitter than it would seem considering her stature - she averaged 251 yards off the tee at the US Women's Open, which was above the average. At 28, she shouldn't have much of a problem adjusting to life in the States. She can be an inconsistent player, but when she's on, she's as good as anyone.
4) Ariya Jutanugarn
Ariya scares me. She seemed destined to give Lydia Ko a run for her money and become one of the best golfers in the world, but a shoulder injury seems to have set her back. She was talented enough to Monday qualify on the LPGA Tour a bunch of times last season, and she finished third in the Q-School, so she obviously still has talent. If she can put four rounds together, watch out. She can be deadly. It may just take her half a season to get to the point where she's contending on a regular basis.
3) Ha Na Jang
Forget the final round 80 at the Q-School. It was difficult conditions, and she had built up such a cushion that she felt compelled to play aggressively without worrying about losing her card. Her biggest strength is her length off the tee, but she has a solid short game that makes her different from traditional "bombers". Notched a top 5 at the Evian and was second to Hyo Joo Kim on the KLPGA Tour in nearly every category last season. She has the game that can travel, and she will not be intimidated by the big stages.
2) Minjee Lee
My only concern about Minjee are the expectations placed on her. She is supposed to be great, and some players can't handle that kind of pressure. Then again, Lydia Ko had a bunch of expectations placed on her, and she handled them beautifully. If Minjee just plays her game and doesn't worry about the distractions, she will be a huge name on the LPGA Tour. She was the top ranked amateur in the world, she had top 25's in three majors last year and nearly denied Cheyenne Woods her victory on the LET Tour. She was also the only amateur to play in the International Crown, and Karrie Webb couldn't praise her skills and abilities enough. If this were any other year, I would have circled Minjee Lee as the sure fire Rookie Of The Year. However...
1) Hyo Joo Kim
Hyo Joo Kim is the next great Korean superstar. Last season, Kim won the KLPGA's Player Of The Year award for winning five times, including a one shot win over Rolex Number One Inbee Park in October. In her four appearances on the LPGA Tour last year, she finished no worse than T7. Not to mention she won the Evian Masters in her very first start at a major. Kim is already inside the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings, and will be the number one player in the world some day. The only downside is that she will be playing a split schedule between the KLPGA and the LPGA Tours, but she is ready to win now and, in my opinion, is the favorite to be the Rookie Of The Year. It is also worth noting that the last Korean to win a major as a non-member was So Yeon Ryu, who was named Rookie Of The Year when she took up membership the following year.
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