8 Players to Watch at The US Women's Open 2024

It's time for the second major on the LPGA Tour calendar as the US Women's Open makes its way back to Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, which previously hosted the championship in 2015.

Naturally, attention is fixed upon world number one Nelly Korda, who has astonishingly won six of her last seven tournaments, including the Chevron Championship in April. 

However, the 25-year-old has a fairly modest (by her standards) record in her national showpiece, with a tie for eighth in 2022 being the American's best showing to date.

She is understandably the clear favourite, but we all know that a USGA championship can throw up a surprise or two, so we have picked out a range of potential contenders to claim the trophy that will be defended by Allisen Corpuz, who brilliantly won 12 months ago at the iconic Pebble Beach.

Nelly Korda

Alright then, yes, we're going to talk a little bit more about Korda, and how could you not? Her season to date is already verging on the historic and another major title would elevate that even further. 

Looking at the statistics on the LPGA Tour, Korda leads for greens in regulation, putts per greens in regulation, eagles, rounds in the 60s, and scoring average. 

She is a phenom and will be the name most feared on the leaderboard this week.

Hannah Green

It was five years ago when the Australian broke through and won the Women's PGA Championship, but this current season is easily her most impressive campaign since, as the 27-year-old has already won twice on the LPGA - especially noteworthy throughout this Korda era!

And it could have been even better - had it not been for Nelly, who denied Green a third title of 2024 just a fortnight ago at Liberty National.

Rose Zhang

We can't think of many more recent talents who enjoyed more fanfare than Rose Zhang, who followed an extraordinary amateur career by winning her first professional start last year.

Zhang then posted top-ten finishes in three majors, before securing her second LPGA victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup earlier this month.

The 21-year-old from California is ready to take that next step in her journey.

Gabriela Ruffels

Having featured prominently on the leaderboard in the majors when she was an amateur, it has taken Ruffels a little longer to establish herself than many expected, but that has clearly been rectified in recent times.

Having won three events on the Epsom Tour in 2023, the Australian (who was born in Florida) graduated to the LPGA Tour, and she has finished in third place in both of her last two starts before the US Open.

She is running away with rookie of the year honours - and that status could be further validated this week.

Madelene Sagstrom

Narrowly finishing runner-up to Rose Zhang at the Founders Cup in May, the Swede comes to Lancaster Country Club in good form, with two other top-ten finishes to show for this season, underlining that the 31-year-old could once again be an asset for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup in September.

Maja Stark

Speaking of Solheim Cup stars from Sweden, we also like the chances of Maja Stark, who was hugely impressive during the Chevron in April, when it was just Nelly Korda who denied the 24-year-old a first major title.

Her previous four US Open appearances include finishes of 13th, 16th and 9th, underlining that she favours the typical setups established by the USGA.

Jin Young Ko

That can also be said of Jin Young Ko, who was undeniably Korda-esque between 2019 and 2021. It's been a little quieter for the South Korean golfer since, but the former world number one remains a major threat, and could yet have a third grand slam victory in her locker.

Minjee Lee

Likewise, if you are looking for players with the pedigree to stare down Korda on a back nine, then Minjee Lee should be up there. The game belonged to the Aussie a couple of years ago, but while that form has become a little patchier, her good weeks are still better than most, as evidenced by two victories last autumn and a recent top ten at the Founders Cup.

The champion of 2022 will expect to contend once more as we prepare for America's national championship.

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