Post by HappyFan on Jun 29, 2016 6:41:25 GMT
2016 is So Yeon Ryu's fifth season on the LPGA tour. She started her LPGA career with a bang by winning the 2011 US Women's Open, and followed that with a 2012 rookie campaign where she tied Lewis for most top tens at 16.
Since then, So Yeon has amassed an incredible record, but only managed two additional wins in non-Majors. So the question arises: is that all we will ever see from So Yeon? With her immense talent, can she ever get over the hump and start to win in bunches? Perhaps challenge for the top spot, like she often claims she wants to do?
Comparing her with her good friend Inbee Park is instructive. Inbee, like So Yeon, won the US Women's Open as her first win; she did not win again on tour for the next four seasons. But when she started winning again in 2012, she didn't stop, eventually amassing six more Majors, 16 more wins, a Player of the Year, a Vare trophy, and a Hall of Fame qualification.
Could we see a mid-career resurgence from So Yeon? Let's look at the stats:
So Yeon:
2012: 16 top tens, 1 win, 2 runner ups, 12 top fives (!!!), 1 top ten in Major
2013: 10 top tens, no wins, 2 runner ups, 7 top fives, 3 top fives in Majors (!!!!)
2014: 15 top tens, 1 win, 1 runner up, 10 top fives, 1 top ten in Major
2015: 10 top tens, no wins, 2 runner ups, 9 top fives, 2 top fives in Majors
2016 (so far): 6 top tens, no runner ups, 2 top fives, 2 top tens out of two Majors
That's 57 top tens, *40* top fives, and only two wins (just since she joined the tour). Name another player with a record like hers that doesn't have at least six to eight wins!
Inbee Park's first five seasons:
2007: 2 top tens, no wins, 1 runner up, two top fives, 1 top five in Major
2008: 8 top tens, 1 win, 1 runner up, 2 top fives, 2 top tens in Majors, 1 Major win
2009: 2 top tens, no wins, no runner ups, no top fives, no top tens in Majors
2010: 11 top tens, no wins, 1 runner up, 3 top fives, 4 top tens in Majors
2011: 3 top tens, no wins, no runner up, no top fives, 2 top tens in Majors
That's 26 top tens, 7 top fives, and one win.
Inbee was three years younger than So Yeon when she started her LPGA career, but what's interesting is that, despite not having a ton of success early on, she was eventually able to focus on a winning formula and become a superstar. I feel like So Yeon still has time to get there, and I like the fact she has been working on making her swing even better. Hard to say what the turning point might be, but I'm rooting for her to get there sooner or later!
Since then, So Yeon has amassed an incredible record, but only managed two additional wins in non-Majors. So the question arises: is that all we will ever see from So Yeon? With her immense talent, can she ever get over the hump and start to win in bunches? Perhaps challenge for the top spot, like she often claims she wants to do?
Comparing her with her good friend Inbee Park is instructive. Inbee, like So Yeon, won the US Women's Open as her first win; she did not win again on tour for the next four seasons. But when she started winning again in 2012, she didn't stop, eventually amassing six more Majors, 16 more wins, a Player of the Year, a Vare trophy, and a Hall of Fame qualification.
Could we see a mid-career resurgence from So Yeon? Let's look at the stats:
So Yeon:
2012: 16 top tens, 1 win, 2 runner ups, 12 top fives (!!!), 1 top ten in Major
2013: 10 top tens, no wins, 2 runner ups, 7 top fives, 3 top fives in Majors (!!!!)
2014: 15 top tens, 1 win, 1 runner up, 10 top fives, 1 top ten in Major
2015: 10 top tens, no wins, 2 runner ups, 9 top fives, 2 top fives in Majors
2016 (so far): 6 top tens, no runner ups, 2 top fives, 2 top tens out of two Majors
That's 57 top tens, *40* top fives, and only two wins (just since she joined the tour). Name another player with a record like hers that doesn't have at least six to eight wins!
Inbee Park's first five seasons:
2007: 2 top tens, no wins, 1 runner up, two top fives, 1 top five in Major
2008: 8 top tens, 1 win, 1 runner up, 2 top fives, 2 top tens in Majors, 1 Major win
2009: 2 top tens, no wins, no runner ups, no top fives, no top tens in Majors
2010: 11 top tens, no wins, 1 runner up, 3 top fives, 4 top tens in Majors
2011: 3 top tens, no wins, no runner up, no top fives, 2 top tens in Majors
That's 26 top tens, 7 top fives, and one win.
Inbee was three years younger than So Yeon when she started her LPGA career, but what's interesting is that, despite not having a ton of success early on, she was eventually able to focus on a winning formula and become a superstar. I feel like So Yeon still has time to get there, and I like the fact she has been working on making her swing even better. Hard to say what the turning point might be, but I'm rooting for her to get there sooner or later!
