Women’s Australian Open Top-10 Player Power Rankings

Some are predicting that Ariya Jutanugarn won’t be able to repeat her stunning 2016 season: 3 Tour wins that included the Women’s British Open, the Rolex Player of the Year award, winner of the Race to the CME Globe, top of the Tour’s Money List. Then there were the media recognitions: GWAA Female player of the Year, Thailand Professional Athlete of the Year, Fox Sports Asia Woman of the Year, and Fox Sports Asia Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

I’m not among those nay-sayers. The 21-year old Thai player who’s known for fearless, aggressive play and a meditative smile has outplayed some of the best women in pro golf: Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Sei Young Kim, Mo Martin, and Amy Yang.

Jutanugarn’s early-season stats are perfect for Royal Adelaide. She’s hitting 80% of the fairways off the tee, an essential skill this week, and she’s managing her short game nicely. Look for Jutanugarn to take control and enjoy her game this week in South Australia.