Plaid pants, and gruff voices are the stereotype of professional golf. The reality however, is that the golf courses are blooming with incredible women golfers who are unmatched in their skill, passion, and drive. But most often, their stories get overshadowed by the spotlight on male players.
The contributions of women in this sport are nothing short of extraordinary. From trailblazers of golf, to the rising golf stars of today, there are many famous women golfers to read about!
Top 10 most famous women golfers
Well, determining the “top 10 most famous” women golfers (or anything else) is subjective! We have tried to build a comprehensive list depending on competitive achievements, polarity and impact on the community. But please remember, it is not an absolute ranking. And yours number one can be wildly different from someone elses’. But that’s okay!
So, let’s explore the other side of professional golf in this blog post! We will list the top 10 most famous women golfers, along with their story, and achievement. So, let’s dive right into it!
10. Michelle Wie (USA)
Wie’s career has been of both immense promise and challenges. She is a former child prodigy who became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship at the age of just 10. She turned professional in 2005, when she was just 15. During this time she also signed sponsorship contracts with Nike and Sony worth more than $10 million per year.
Michelle has 5 LPGA tour wins, including one major win under her name.As of 2024, Michelle is spending a comfy home life with her husband and a daughter, but plans to return back to competitive golf eventually.
9. Stacy Lewis (USA)
A 13-time LPGA Tour winner, Lewis is known for her consistent play and strong mental game. Growing up in Texas, Stacy started playing as a child and honed her skills gradually. She was diagnosed with Scoliosis at age 11 which was treated during high school. Despite that, she continued to play through college and turned professional in 2008.
Her major achievement in golf includes the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship, and the 2013 Women’s British Open.
8. Inbee Park (South Korea)
With 7 major championships and 21 LPGA Tour wins, Park is one of the most decorated golfers of all time. She is well known for her impeccable techniques and focus on the golf course.
In 2013, she won three majors consecutively, which solidified her place as one of the all-time greats of Golf. Beyond the wins, Park has also reigned as world no. 1 for 106 weeks.
Park has 1 olympic gold medal (2016) under her name. She is also the youngest golfer to be inducted into LPGA hall of fame.
7. Danielle Kang (USA):
Number 7 on the list of top 10 most famous women golfers is Danielle Kang from the USA.
A two-time major champion, Kang is known for her laser-sharp focus and putting skills.She has captured 8 Tour wins, including two major championships in her career.
What makes Danielle’s story even more inspiring is that she battled a rare spinal condition as a child before becoming a dominant force on golf. Danielle has worked with well known brands like Adidas, and organizations like UNICEF.
6. Brooke Henderson (Canada):
Brooke is a trailblazer for Canadian golf, inspiring a generation with her talent. She has 9 LPGA tour wins, including the prestigious Women’s British Open Title. Brooke is a national icon in Canada, as she is the first Canadian golfer to win a major championship. What is more, she became the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA tour at age 17.
Now aged 25, Henderson continues to captivate golf fans with her play and her presence. From leading by example to actively encourage future generations, Brooke Henderson is surely leaving an incredible mark on the sport.
5. Lydia Ko (New Zealand):
Lydia Ko is the youngest player ever to be ranked No. 1 in the world! She started playing at the age of just 5 and dominated junior tournaments before becoming a remarkable professional golfer.Lydia has 17 LPGA tour wins, including 2 major championships Her infectious smile and positive attitude have made her a fan favorite in the world of golf. She is also seen inspiring young golfers, especially girls to chase their golf dreams.
At the age of 26, Lydia continues to be a driving force in women’s golf.
4. Lexi Thompson (USA):
Lexi started young and made history as the youngest qualifier for the U.S. Open at just 12 years old. This aggressive golfer then turned pro at 15.
She has 11 LPGA tour wins including the prestigious ANA inspiration under her book. There have been some controversies and injuries in her career but her passion and resilience have always shined through.
3. Annika Sorenstam (Sweden):
Widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, Sorenstam won 72 LPGA Tour events and 10 majors before retiring in 2008. She has a staggering 90 international wins, which is the most by any women in golf. Commonly referred as “Miss Congeniality:, Annika stayed as world no. 1 for 64 consecutive weeks!
Beyond her prowess in the golf course, she has also established the Annika FOundation involved in empowering juniors and promoting diversity in golf.
At the age of 53, Annika continues to inspire women in golf with her legacy.
2. Jin Young Ko (South Korea):
Former world No. 1, Jin Young Ko is number 2 on the list of Top 10 most famous women golfers.
Ko’s passion for golf was driven by her father’s influence. By her teens, she was already racking up wins on the Korean LPGA Tour.Her undeniable talent led to her second-place finish at Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2015, at the age of only 20.
She joined the LPGA in 2018 and then went to collect 15 LPGA tour wins, including an impressive 6 major championships.
1. Nelly Korda (USA):
Former No. 1 ranked golfer in the world, Nelly’s achievements are nothing short of phenomenal. She has 10 LPGA tour wins, including 4 prestigious majors (The Masters, PGA, U.S Open & Open championship. Her Olympic gold in 2021 further solidified her star status.
Nelly was born in .. on a tennis-playing family. She started playing at the age of just 5 years old. She honed her natural skills at the prestigious IMG Academy before going professional.
Her sister Jessica and brother Sebastian also are professional golf players.
Nelly Korda is not just a star athlete, she is an inspiration to a generation of girls. The Korda Family Foundation also supports junior golf development and athletes with financial needs.
Summary | Top 10 most famous women golfers
Here is a summary of the list of top 10 most famous women golfers
- Nelly Korda
- Jin Young Ko
- Annika Sorenstam
- Lexi Thompson
- Lydia Ko
- Brooke Henderson
- Danielle Kang
- Inbee Park
- Stacy Lewis
- Michelle Wie
