Best current female golfers

Professional women’s golf has emerged in recent years as a genuine sporting powerhouse, with expanded seasons, increased interest worldwide and some of the biggest prize purses on record.

While it has yet to catch up with the men’s game in real terms, 2024 is shaping up to be women’s golf’s biggest year to date, with the game attracting increasingly larger investment, prize purses, sponsorships and viewing figures to help gain momentum, close the gender pay gap and elevate the women’s game.

This rise is due in no small part to the individual performances of some of the game’s greatest players, many of whom are still active and breaking records to this day. In this article, we’ll run down the top female golfers of the modern era.

1. Nelly Korda: Korda has been a standout on the LPGA Tour and has achieved significant success over a sustained period of time. She won her first major championship at the 2018 Women’s PGA Championship and has since had multiple LPGA Tour victories, reaching the world No. 1 ranking in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2021.
2. Jin Young Ko: known for her consistent and solid play, Ko is often praised for her ability to perform well in a variety of conditions and on different golf courses. She has held the world No. 1 ranking and won multiple LPGA tournaments, including major championships such as the ANA Inspiration and the Evian Championship.
3. Inbee Park: another former World no. 1, Park is considered one of the greatest female golfers of all time. She is a prominent figure on the LPGA Tour and has registered numerous championship victories, as well as an unprecedented gold medal in women’s golf at the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing South Korea.
4. Lydia Ko: representing New Zealand, Ko is widely regarded as one of the most successful and accomplished female athletes in the history of the sport. She first reached number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2015 aged just 17 years, making her the youngest player (male or female) to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf.
5. Sei Young Kim: Kim earned her reputation as one of the top golfers in the world during a 2015 victory in the LGPA Championship. Since then she had secured multiple tournament wins and has gained praise for her exceptional golfing skills and her ability to consistently compete at a high level. She has set several scoring records on the LPGA Tour, including a record-low score in relation to par in a 72-hole event.
6. Brooke Henderson: one of the rising stars in female golf, Henderson has been a consistent contender in LPGA events having secured multiple victories in her career so far. In addition, she has successfully represented her home country of Canada at various international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
7. Danielle Kang: known for her aggressive and fearless approach to the game, Kang turned professional in 2011 and quickly made her mark. She won her first LPGA title at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She followed that up with another major victory at the 2020 Drive On Championship, establishing her as one of the top golfers on the LPGA Tour.
8. Minjee Lee: hailing from Australia, Lee turned professional in 2014 and quickly made a name for herself in the world of professional golf, with her strong performances and achievements at a young age garnering attention and marking her as a rising star. She has since won major titles at the Amundi Evian Championship in 2021, and the US Women’s Open the following year.
9. Lexi Thompson: Thompson is known for her long drives and aggressive style of play, making her one of the most exciting and dynamic female golfers to watch today. She became the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA tournament in 2011 when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic, and is currently considered one of the top female golfers in the world, with multiple tournament victories.
10. Hyo-Joo Kim: Hyo-Joo Kim has gained plaudits for her strong performances and achievements in both amateur and professional golf, and for her smooth and efficient swing. One of the most significant highlights of her career to date was victory at the 2014 Evian Championship, making her the third youngest player to win a major championship at the time.

This list only scratches the surface of the level of talent evident in woman’s golf today. And thanks to the growing field of sports crowdfunding, aspiring athletes can hope to follow in the footsteps of their golfing idols, through access to proper training, equipment and facilities.

Who knows where the next Nelly Korda or Lydia Ko will come from? Start a sports crowdfunding campaign today and discover the endless possibilities!