Will Saigo Win Again: Chevron Championship Power Rankings

The week is finally here. While we’ve had our fair share of elevated purses recently, with the PIF funded Aramco Championship, and record breaking JM Eagle LA Championship, this week’s purse is nearly double. The Chevron Championship marks the first of 5 majors on the LPGA Tour schedule. The 9 million dollar purse however isn’t the only storyline this week.

Perhaps the biggest one is the course. Memorial Park Golf Course will make its Chevron Championship debut this week. The course was redesigned in 2020 by famed architect Tom Doak, and also plays host to the PGA Tour’s Houston Open. The course features large fairways and limited hazards, with the courses main defense being the green structures. The green complexes are where Doak’s designs come to life, and Memorial Park is no different. The course features numerous raised greens, with steep runoff areas ready to catch errant approach shots. Once you get on the greens it doesn’t get any easier. Memorial Park features multiple two-tiered green complexes, with dramatic, undulating slopes.

But enough about the course, let’s talk about the ladies playing it.

Like most majors, this week’s field is nothing short of spectacular. 39 of the top 40 players in Rolex Womens Golf Ranking are teeing it up in Houston this week. But the talent doesn’t stop there, 8 of the game’s elite amateurs are also making their way to the Space City.

But only one can crown the title of Chevron Champion, and make the iconic leap.

With that being said, here are this week’s power rankings.

10. Chizzy Iwai

Chizzy Iwai has been one of the hottest players to start the year. She has made the cut in all 10 of her starts, while garnering 5 top 5 finishes. The 23 year old was the 2nd round leader at last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship before a pair of rounds in the 70s saw her slowly fall out of contention. She is making her 12th major start and her 2nd Chevron Championship start. She finished T30 at Carlton Woods last year and now looks to build on last week’s momentum as she takes on Memorial Park for the first time.

9. Lauren Coughlin

Lauren Coughlin got her first victory of the season just two weeks at the PIF sponsored Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek. Outside of her win however, her season has been a bit disappointing, with no other top 25s. Yet, her ability to win on difficult golf courses puts her in a favorable position this week. She is making her 4th Chevron Championship start this week, with her best finish coming in 2024 in the form of a T3.

8. Sei Young Kim

Sei Young Kim is the first major champion on this list, wit her win coming at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. After her breakthrough major, she failed to reach the winners circle again until last year BMW Ladies Championship where she cruised to a 4 shot victory over Nasa Hataoka. Since then, she has been in incredible form, recording 5 top 10 finishes in her past 8 starts. She is making her 13th Chevron Championship start this year, after finishing T24 last year.

7. Lydia Ko

The World No. 8 has had a very solid start to the season. She’s showed flashes of excellence, tallying 3 top 5s, as well as a T11 in her most recent start at the Aramco Championship. She enters this week as a past champion, aiming for a storybook reunion on the 10-year anniversary of her 2016 Chevron Championship victory. A win this week would mark her 4th major, and put her in the company of legends like Laura Davies, Hollis Stacy, and Donna Capponi.

6. Minjee Lee

This weeks marks one of the most important weeks of the year for 132 players competing this week, but for Minjee Lee it means just a little more. With a win this week, she could become the 7th lady to complete the career grand slam, and the first since Inbee Park in 2015. She comes into Houston with 2 top 5’s in four starts. This year marks her 11th start at the Chevron. Her brother Min Woo got his maiden victory at Memorial Park last year, and it would be fitting if she could get her last here to complete the career grand slam.

5. Charley Hull

Charley Hull is still seeking her first major title in 12th season on tour. It has been a nice start to the season for her, with her breakout win coming at the PIF Saudi Ladies Invitational. The victory catapulted her to a career high 3rd in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings. She looks to finally break through after multiple runner-up finishes in majors as she makes her 13th start at the Chevron Championship.

Charley Hull, CC: Wojciech Migda, Wikimedia

4. Jeeno Thitikul

The World No. 1 is by far the best player is the field still yet to win a major. Thitikul started her season the same way she ended her 2025 campaign. A win and a top 10. However, she has faltered recently, with no top 10s in her past 4 starts. Still, her form hasn’t been bad, just not up to her normal level of play. The 23-year-old is making her 6th start at the Chevron Championship this week. Her best finish in the championship came in 2023 in the form of a T4.

3. Hyojoo Kim

World No. 3 and current Race to the CME Globe runner-up Hyojoo Kim is seeking her first major championship win since winning the Evian Championship in 2014 as a member of the KLPGA. Kim has been off to a scorching hot start to the year, holding off world No. 2 Nelly Korda twice, on her way to back-to-back victories. However, she withdrew from last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship due to a neck injury, raising questions about her health heading into her 11th Chevron Championship start.

2. Hannah Green

Hannah Green is coming into this week in incredible form. Outside of a missed cut at the arduous Aramco Championship, the 8-time LPGA Champion has added two wins and a solo 7th to her resume this year. She is seeking her first major victory since her breakout win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. This year marks the 8th start for the 29-year-old from Perth, Australia. If she can maintain her recent level of play, she has a real chance to add another major title to her name.

1. Nelly Korda

It’s no surprise to see the Race to the CME Globe leader in the top spot in this weeks rankings. Nelly has been phenomenal to start the year. The two-time major champion has one win, and three seconds in just 4 starts this year. Nelly is another past champion in this weeks field, as she makes her 11th start this year. With a win this week, she would become the 5th two-time winner, joining the likes of Brittany Lincicome and Dottie Pepper.

Leave a Reply

Trending

Discover more from Vinyl Golf

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading