This year "feels like it could be the start of something bigger" for the LPGA, according to Randall Mell of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Lydia Ko's "star is just beginning to rise," as the 17-year-old won three LPGA tournament as a rookie this season, "equaling Rolex world No. 1 Inbee Park and No. 2 Stacy Lewis for most victories" in '14. Park, 26, and Lewis, 29, "battled to within hundredths of a decimal point" for the No. 1 ranking. One also "can see how much" Michelle Wie "wants to join Park and Lewis in that battle." Wie's "passion is returning," and her confidence is "growing with those victories at the U.S. Women's Open and Lotte Championship." Meanwhile, 19-year-old Lexi Thompson "won her first major at the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this year playing bomb-and-gouge golf in a way the LPGA has never seen before." The LPGA season's "big-bang finish Sunday came with the promise of even more spectacular fireworks" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 11/24).
KIND OF A BIG DEAL? A GOLF.com roundtable discussion posed the question, "How big a breakthrough did the LPGA make on the sports scene in 2014?" SI's Alan Shipnuck said, "Wie's win at the Open was the biggest thing to happen to the LPGA since [Annika Sorenstam] pegged it at Colonial. To have so many other exciting, personable, telegenic players take big steps forward means this was, quite simply, one of the best years ever for the LPGA." SI's Michael Bamberger: "The LPGA is more interesting than it has been since the early days of Nancy Lopez. Good for them." SI's Jeff Ritter said it is "safe to say that golf fans tuned into the women's game this year with renewed interest. Women's golf had a great year, and next season's schedule includes more events and bigger prize money. Things are heading [in] the right direction." SI's Gary Van Sickle called it a "nice year for the tour," with "star-building in progress." But he added "that's all" it is. Golf magazine's Josh Sens: "In the context of global sports, barely a ripple. But everything is relative. Given how badly the LPGA was struggling just a few years ago, this was a mega season" (
GOLF.com, 11/23).
