Must-See Smile Shots of the Skilled Heroine Contenders in the Women’s Golf Tour Second Half
Plenty to see and do! There are still a few "rising stars" aiming for their first win...
The Glamorous Battle is Full of Highlights for the Second Half!
With less than three months remaining in this season’s domestic women’s professional golf tour, the race for the annual queen is heating up, led by Rio Takeda (21), who has already claimed six victories. However, there are still many heroine contenders. Sports writer Myung-Woo Kim provides an analysis.
Sakura Koiwai (26)
Total prize money has surpassed 700 million yen, making her the Iron Woman leading the golf scene.
Driver: 5
Putting: 5
Approach: 5
Control: 4
Recovery: 4
Rio Takeda (21)
Having also claimed a major title, she is in a dominant position and has clear visibility towards her first championship.
Driver: 5
Putting: 5
Approach: 5
Control: 5
Recovery: 4
What kind of drama will unfold in the second half of the tournament?
“Sakura Koiwai (26), with two victories and currently ranked 3rd in the Mercedes rankings, is demonstrating outstanding consistency. Her swing has improved significantly, leading to an impressive third-place ranking in greens in regulation and her highest average driver distance ever at over 252 yards.
Rookie Yumeno Masada (24) is also one to watch. After five attempts, she finally passed the pro test and has showcased her precision iron shots by finishing in the top 10 three times in her last five tournaments. The long lines for autographs have become a post-game highlight, proving she is as popular as the top professionals.”
Additionally, there are several strong contenders this season, such as Haruka Kawasaki (21), who has achieved three wins, and Reika Usui (25), a member of the golden generation who recently claimed her long-awaited first victory.
“On the flip side, some seasoned players who have faced struggles are starting to show signs of recovery. Erika Hara (25), who has often expressed concerns about her performance, has bounced back since July, finishing in the top 10 four times without missing any cuts. Nana Suganuma (24), who had a slow start due to knee pain and lack of practice, is also showing signs of improvement, creating excitement for the upcoming second half of the season.”
What drama will unfold in the remaining tournaments?
