Korda has dominated this season, posting three wins and three runner-up finishes in six starts. She had won two straight events recently but opted to rest this week. With the clear frontrunner absent, the field is tighter and Korean players have a real opportunity.
Kim Sei-young is also a strong contender. At last month’s JM Eagle LA Championship she led by two strokes through three rounds but faltered on the final day and lost in a playoff. She missed the cut at the following Chevron Championship, but with time to regroup she looks capable of bouncing back. As the world No. 11, she has the game to challenge for the title at any time.
Another storyline is Michelle Wie West’s comeback. She effectively stepped away from competition after the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and will return to tournament play for the first time in three years. A five-time LPGA winner, including one major, she’s spent the past six months building her fitness, and fans will be watching closely.
With the tour’s top player temporarily absent, the odds of a new champion feel higher than ever. All eyes are on whether Korea’s contingent can seize the moment.
Photos: AP / Yonhap
