Top Five Youngest Female Golf Player to Watch for in 2024

Advertisement

The past few decades have witnessed an incredible rise of women golf players dominating the world of golf with their phenomenal achievements. With the emergence of professional golf tournaments such as Ladies Professional Golf Association (LGPA), U.S. Women’s Open, Women’s Southern Golf Association Amateur Championship, Women’s Eastern Golf Association Amateur Championship, Women’s Western Amateur Championship, Canadian Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, Australian Women’s Amateur and The Women’s Amateur Championship, the stature of women gold players has been highlighted and elevated to unprecedented heights. Young, inspirational and prominent female role models of golf, including Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee, Nelly Korda and many more have been garnering massive attention and support from the golfing community and fans from around the world. 

Advertisement

Gaby Lopez 

Born on 9 November 1993, Gaby Lopez is a professional Mexican golf player who made her professional golfing breakthrough in 2015 and outshined as an individual runner-up at the 2015 NCAA Division I Championship. Later in 2016, Gaby Lopez dominated the LPGA tour and also qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The 31-year-old professional golf player successfully clinched her maiden LPGA Tour in 2018 at the Blue Bay LPGA. Additionally, Gaby Lopez concluded her Tokyo 2020 Women’s Olympic tournament at the 23rd rank, establishing herself as one of the top prospects for the female golfing team. Gaby’s well-rounded skill set and mental toughness on the field are impressive and anticipated to elevate her game at a global level.

Nelly Korda 

American professional female golf player, Nelly Korda, is considered to be one of the most dynamic and prominent names in the landscape of young athletes. Born on July 28, 1998, the 26-year-old female golfer made her debut in professional golf in 2016. Nelly Korda is often hailed as the queen of the LPGA tour. She is ranked at number one in the world rankings for clinching the LPGA tour ten times. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics turned out to be a turning point in Korda’s golfing career as she garnered a lot of fame and appreciation for clinching a gold medal at the women’s gold event. Nelly Korda represented the United States at the Solheim Cup thrice in the years 2019, 2021 and most recently in 2023. As of 2024, Nelly Korda has been in full action and clinched her ninth LPGA tour in Bradenton and is expected to elevate her performance even more in the upcoming tours.  

Minjee Lee 

Born on 27 May 1996, Minjee Lee is often hailed as one of the most influential figures in the female golfing arena. The 28-year-old Australian professional female golf player, Minjee Lee, is ranked at the position of number one as an amateur golfer. Minjee Lee had a strong inclination towards gold since her childhood days. She established herself as the youngest conqueror of the WA Amateur Tour at the age of nine. Additionally, Minjee Lee has also clinched the U.S. Girl’s Junior tournament in 2012 and the Australian Women’s Amateur Tournament in 2013. Furthermore, Minjee Lee clinched the Oates Victorian Open on the ALPG Tour in 2014 and secured her number-one ranking as an amateur golfer. Minjee Lee was honored with the prestigious Greg Norman medal twice in the years 2018 and 2021. Moreover, she has also been awarded the coveted Rolex Annika Major Award in 2022. With all her achievements and record-breaking performances on the field, Minjee Lee is considered to be a young stalwart of female golf.

Lydia Ko 

New Zealand’s professional female golf player, Lydia Ko, has been making waves in the golfing world since the time she stepped into it. At the age of seventeen, Lydia Ko was ranked at the number one position in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. She set a record for being the youngest player to achieve the feat.  Additionally, in 2017, Lydia Ko also held the record for being the youngest female golfer to clinch an LPGA tour at the age of fifteen. Lydia Ko is considered to be the only amateur to clinch two LPGA tours in 2013. Furthermore, at the age of eighteen, Lydia chalked the record of being the youngest golfer to clinch the 2015 Evian Championship in France. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including the Mark H. McCormack Medal (2011,2012,2013), Halberg Supreme Award (2013), Best Female Golfer ESPY Award (2015, 2016), LPGA Vare Trophy (2021, 2022) and many more establishing her as one of the most prominent young golfers.  

Hinako Shibuno 

Born on 15 November 1998, Hinako Shibuno is a Japanese professional female golf player who struck the limelight after clinching the 2019 Women’s British Open. Shibuno entered the professional world of golf just a year after her graduation in 2018. Shibuno captured the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup in 2019, proving his versatility and caliber on the field. The winning streak didn’t end for Shibuno as she went on to clinch the AIG Women’s British Open the same year in August. After Hisako Higuchi, Hinako Shibuno made history by establishing herself as the second Japanese golfer to clinch the women’s major championship title. Hinako Shibuno was honored with the LPGA of Japan Tour

Player of the Year award in 2019. As of 2024, with all her brilliant achievements, Hinako Shibuno is considered to be one of the most influential women in the golfing world.

Advertisement