It is getting more and more difficult each year to narrow this down to just 40 players because the LPGA keeps getting stronger every year. Last year we had winners from 11 different countries. We had twenty-nine different winners (an LPGA record) and just 2 multiple winners. We had 12 first time winners (also an LPGA record). There are so many great players that can win on any given week. How can you pick just forty? Well, I am going to give it a try even if it means leaving some very good players off this list. Here are my top 40 picks for the 2026 season in reverse order: (Last year’s Race to the CME Globe finishes in parenthesis)
40- Jin Young Ko (39) – Many people are ready to write her off since she hasn’t won since 2023. She only made 75% of her cuts, but her 70.34 strokes per round was still 22nd on tour. Wouldn’t be all that surprised if win number sixteen comes this year.
39- Lauren Coughlin (33) – This late bloomer proved that 2024 was no fluke. Although she didn’t win in 2025, she had 2 top fives, four top tens, and ten top twenties.
38- Ruoning Yin (34) – After winning five times in the previous 2 years, she took a big step back last year. She managed just 3 top ten finishes and her stats were down across the board. At just twenty-three years of age, she is still capable of climbing back up the rankings.
37- Miranda Wang (37) – Miranda got into the winners’ circle last year at the FM Championship. She had two other top ten finishes but needs to be more consistent before I can put her further up this list.
36- Brooke Matthews (60) – A rookie in 2022, Brooke had really struggled to find success on the LPGA tour. All of a sudden something seemed to click in the middle of last season. She had finishes of 15th, 14th, 8th, 16th, and 9th in her last seven starts. She has followed that up with a top fifteen finish in her first start this year. I look for more improvement this year.
35- Grace Kim (31) – She made her 2nd LPGA victory last season a Major Championship and had 3 other top ten finishes. I don’t rank her higher because she seems to disappear for long stretches and her 71.24 strokes per round needs to improve.
34- Carlota Ciganda (28) – Carlota was victorious at the Meyer classic last year. She had 4 other top ten finishes. Her 71.00 scoring average was mediocre. Known as the human rain delay on tour for her slow play, I look for her to finish about here.
33- Austin Kim (32) – Austin has not yet won on the LPGA tour but that could change this year. She had two top five and five top ten finishes in 2025. Her scoring average of 70.65 is fine.
32- Lindy Duncan (30) – Lindy came into her own last year, her thirteenth year on tour, with three top five and six top ten finishes. Look for more of the same this year.
31- Gaby Lopez (29) – Gaby had a very consistent season last year when she posted 3 top fives, 7 top tens, and 10 top twenties. She is a three time winner who finishes in this area every year.
30- Yealimi Noh (25) – It was a tale of two seasons for her last year. She started the year on fire with finishes of 1, 11, 7, 6, and 17 in her first five starts. It was all downhill from there as in her last 10 starts missed five cuts and finished better than 33rd just once.
29- Linn Grant (22) – Linn earned her 2nd LPGA victory last year and came close several other times as she had four top five finishes. On the down side, she made only 12 cuts in 20 starts.
28- Ayaka Furue (24) – After a super 2024 season when she was not only rookie of the year but also won a Major Championship, she took a small step backwards in 2025. She still managed 5 top ten finishes and her 70.44 scoring average ranked 25th on tour.
27- Brooke Henderson (27) – Brooke quietly won her 14th career victory last year. Other than that victory it wasn’t a great year for her as she managed just two other top ten finishes in 24 starts. Her 70.22 scoring average is excellent.
26- Jennifer Kupcho (20) – Jennifer recorded her 4th LPGA victory last year, but had just 2 other top ten finishes. Her 70.23 scoring average is excellent but hasn’t produced many solid finishes.
25- Minami Katsu (18) – Minami has not won yet on the LPGA tour but has come close several times. Her three top five and six top tens last year tell us a victory could be coming soon.
24- Andrea Lee (23) – Her stats are excellent across the board, but she only has that one win way back in 2022. She posted 3 top fives, 6 top tens and 13 top twenty-five finishes last year. She missed just one cut in 22 starts. Why she hasn’t won more is puzzling.
23- Celine Boutier (19) – Celine achieved superstar status when she won four times in 2023. She hasn’t won since despite good numbers that included a scoring average of 70.16 last season.
22- Youmin Hwang (N/A) Last year was probably the best season for rookies in LPGA history as seven different players were victorious. I don’t see this year’s crop being nearly as good. Youmin seems to be the overwhelming favorite for rookie honors. She won the Lotte Championship last year as a non-LPGA player and made the cut in all four of her starts.
21- Angel Yin (17) – The only thing keeping Angel from LPGA stardom is her ability to stay healthy. When healthy she is a top player. She posted her 2nd LPGA victory last season and had 6 top ten finishes.
20- Nanna Koerstz Madsen (44) – I think 2026 will be a big breakout season for Nanna. Her vital statistics are just too good to ignore. Her 70.14 scoring average was 12th best last year. She ranked 4th in Greens in Regulation and 9th in putts per G.I.R. That is a deadly combination.
19- Haeran Ryu- (21) – There are times where she looks like the best player in the world. Unfortunately, she doesn’t look that way often enough. She had a victory last year and 5 top ten finishes. She could finish way higher than this.
18- Hye-Jin Choi (8) – How is it possible that Hye-Jin hasn’t won yet? Four top fives last year. Twenty-nine top tens in her career and 63 top twenty-fives. Her scoring average of 69.92 is elite. When she shows she can finish on Sunday afternoons I will rank her higher!
17- Jin Hee Im (16) – Another really dangerous player. She won the Dow Championship last year (pairs) but is still looking for her first individual win. She had several chances last season as shown by her five top 5 finishes.
16- Nasa Hataoka (9) – Nasa had another fine season in 2025. She not only picked up her 7th win, but registered 4 top fives, 8 top tens, and 14 top twenty finishes. Her 69.92 scoring average is excellent. Why did I drop her to here? Only because this list has so many new great players.
15- A Lim Kim (11) – A Lim started last season with 3 top ten finishes, including 1 victory. She then played mediocre golf for most of the season before recording 4 straight top tens late in the year. Her 70.21 scoring average ranked 14th on tour.
14- Lydia Ko (26) – Five top tens in a season is a very good number for most players, but for Lydia it is a down year. Hard to explain her driving yardage average dropping from 255 yards in 2024 to just 247 last year. Her greens hit in regulation ranked 49th in 2024 and 113th in 2025. Lydia has had “off” years before, but always bounces back.
13-Sei Young Kim (6) – Sei Young recorded her 13th LPGA victory in 2015, and her first in five years. She was solid all season registering 10 top ten finishes. I expect another solid season this year, with a small drop-off from 2025.
12- Mao Saigo (12) – The 2024 Rookie of the Year recorded her first victory in 2025 and it was a Major Championship! Her 70.31 scoring average ranked 21st on tour. I expect another similar season this year.
11- Rio Takeda (4) – In any other year, Rio would have taken home the Rookie of the Year award. She had 1 victory, 4 top fives, and 8 top tens. She played in more tournaments (30) than any player on tour, and missed just 2 cuts.
10- Hyo Joo Kim (7) – Hyo Joo had another big season in 2025, picking up the seventh win of her career. Her 69.87 scoring average ranked 5th on tour, proving after all these years she is still a top player.
9- Somi Lee (10) – Although she is still looking for that first individual win of her career (she won the Dow Championship last season) her numbers last year were amongst the best on tour. Four top fives, 8 top tens, and 17 top twenty-five finishes. Her 69.89 scoring average ranked 6th.
8- Minjee Lee (3) Are there seven players on tour better than Minjee? Maybe not, but all the remaining players are elite and someone has to be put here. Last season was a huge one as she registered a victory, 6 top fives, and 8 top tens. Her scoring average of 69.64 ranked 3rd on tour.
7 & 6 – Chizzy and Akie Iwai – They are identical twins and they have produced almost identical numbers. They both won once last year as rookies. They both had 11 top twenty finishes. They both played 26 tournaments with Chizzy making one more cut. Chizzy’s scoring average was 70.27 and Akie’s was 70.26. Which sister is better? Your guess is as good as mine.
5- Charley Hull (14) – Charley has been a really good player for a really long time, but seemed to really put it together last season. She finished 12th, 12th, 21st, 2nd, 1st, 14th, 4th, and 19th, in her last eight starts. Her scoring average of 69.93 was 9th best.
4- Lottie Woad (40) – I can see the comments coming in telling me that this ranking is crazy. I don’t think it is. Lottie became the first player to gain LPGA status via the new Elite Amateur Pathway when she finished 3rd at the Amundi Evian Championship. She then won her first start as an LPGA member. Playing in just 9 starts as a member after receiving membership, she had 3 top fives, four top tens, and 7 top twenty-fives. Her 69.31 scoring average would have been 2nd on tour if she had enough rounds to qualify.
3- Miyu Yamashita (2) – She won the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award last year against the toughest competition in LPGA history. She won twice in 2025, one of only two players to have multiple wins. She had 8 top five finishes, 12 top tens, and 17 top twenty-five finishes.
2- Nelly Korda – (5) – After winning seven times in 2024, Nelly was not in the winner’s circle in 2025. What makes that even harder to believe is that her scoring average of 69.44 (which ranked 2nd), was better than the 69.56 when she won seven times. The chances were there as shown by her seven top five finishes. Look for her to turn some of those finishes into victories this year.
1- Jeeno Thitikul (1) – At this point, how can I pick any other? She played like she was a machine last year. She had three wins and there could have been many more if she had better final rounds. She had 12 top five finishes, and 14 top tens which led the LPGA. Her scoring average of 68.68 was the lowest in LPGA history, breaking the record of Annika Sorenstam who had a 68.70 in 2002. Unless she has an injury or Nelly Korda gets into one of her super-hot streaks again, Jeeno will finish in the top spot again.
Players most likely to make me look foolish this year for leaving them off this list: Hannah Green, Sarah Schmelzel, Megan Khang, Maja Stark and Ariya Jutanugarn.
Feature Photo: Jeeno Thitikul – Photo courtesy PGA of America
