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Post by mr3putt on Feb 10, 2015 5:56:39 GMT
1- Hyo- Joo Kim - The cream of the crop. If she doesn't win the top rookie award it will be because she chose to play a number of tournaments in Asia, and her LPGA appearances were limited. She has won 8 times on the KLPGA tour. This 19 year old is already ranked #7 in the Rolex Rankings. She received her LPGA card when she won the Evian Championship last year. She will make her debut as an LPGA member next week in Australia. From what I've read HJK will make her LPGA debut in Thailand...she's not listed in the Oz Open field. www.lpga.com/tournaments/isps-handa-womens-australian-open/final-field4- Q- Baek - She received her LPGA card as a result of winning last year's Mizuno Classic as an non LPGA member. This 19 year old has already won 4 times on the KLPGA, and is ranked #11 in the current Rolex Rankings. Baek won the 2014 KEB - Hana to gain her 2015 LPGA card. Mi Hyang Lee won the 2014 Mizuno.
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Post by HappyFan on Feb 10, 2015 17:36:26 GMT
Technically, Q Baek has won 3 KLPGA events, as the Hana Bank does not count as an official KLPGA tournament (it is considered an LPGA event). But still the best rookie season since Jiyai Shin in 2006 (even Hyo Joo only won once as a rookie).
Baek has gotten out to a shaky start this year, but she did the same thing last year: she played in a couple of the Aussie events with unimpressive results, and seemed to alternate wins with missed cuts early in her KLPGA rookie season. But she settled down on the back half and was awesome after that, so I'm still expecting her to really start flexing her muscles after she gets her bearings over here.
What do you all think Hyo Joo might need to win the ROY in 15 events? At the start of the season I figured she'd need something like two wins and ten top tens, which is doable, but now I'm wondering if that might be enough? We'll see!
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Post by mr3putt on Feb 10, 2015 18:27:35 GMT
Technically, Q Baek has won 3 KLPGA events, as the Hana Bank does not count as an official KLPGA tournament (it is considered an LPGA event). But still the best rookie season since Jiyai Shin in 2006 (even Hyo Joo only won once as a rookie). Baek has gotten out to a shaky start this year, but she did the same thing last year: she played in a couple of the Aussie events with unimpressive results, and seemed to alternate wins with missed cuts early in her KLPGA rookie season. But she settled down on the back half and was awesome after that, so I'm still expecting her to really start flexing her muscles after she gets her bearings over here. What do you all think Hyo Joo might need to win the ROY in 15 events? At the start of the season I figured she'd need something like two wins and ten top tens, which is doable, but now I'm wondering if that might be enough? We'll see! The more I think about this...HJK might not be a shoe in for ROY because of her limited LPGA schedule. It might not mean anything to her.....if it does.......we might see HJK re-shuffle her schedule to play more LPGA events. Depending on how well they play and qualify for limited field events (do limited field event points count for the ROY race?)....we could see other pros play 27+ events..the pro that comes to mind that will play many events is Ariya.....if Moriya is playing....Ariya will likely be with her family...so why not play.
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Post by centurion on Feb 11, 2015 4:00:18 GMT
What do you all think Hyo Joo might need to win the ROY in 15 events? At the start of the season I figured she'd need something like two wins and ten top tens, which is doable, but now I'm wondering if that might be enough? We'll see! I was hoping we would see more than 15 events out of Hyo Joo, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that we will only be seeing her for the big events - therefore, I can no longer consider her a contender. She would have to win a major, I think, for it to be possible, especially since I expect Ha Na to win twice and at least one win out of Ariya.
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Post by HappyFan on Feb 12, 2015 2:13:33 GMT
Two wins and 10 top tens will probably get it done, but I don't think she can do that in just 15 starts. Way too many good players to expect anyone to finish in the top 10 80% of the time. Actually. 10/15 is only 66% top tens, not 80%, which is well within what the top players did last year. I believe Inbee finished in the top ten 72% of the time last year, if that one ad is to be believed. So, I think Hyo Joo is capable of that, but I'm not sure it will be enough even if she can do it.
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Post by mr3putt on Feb 12, 2015 4:22:36 GMT
HJK only played 4 LPGA events in 2014 and finished top ten in all 4 events...yikes!
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Post by HappyFan on Feb 12, 2015 17:47:07 GMT
HJK only played 4 LPGA events in 2014 and finished top ten in all 4 events...yikes! Even I don't think she'll manage 15/15 top tens this year, though! But yeah, she was pretty impressive last year to be sure.
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