KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Who’s hot and who’s not?

So Yeon Ryu: Rolex Rank – 1, CME Globe Rank – 3

So Yeon Ryu’s surprise victory at the 2017 ANA Inspiration in no way detracts from the standout game she’s been playing this season. The third ranked player in the world is in an ideal position to add another major championship title to her resume and continue her march toward a career grand slam.

In addition to her victories at Rancho Mirage and, last week, at the WalMart NW Arkansas Championship, Ryu also has eight additional top-10s on her 2017 record, two of them runner-ups, and she’s missed only one cut this year.  While her  Volvik LPGA Championship and the ShopRite LPGA Classic outcomes weren’t particularly noteworthy, she tore up the golf course at the WalMart NW Championship with a record-setting performance.

Ryu’s not particularly long off the tee but length isn’t necessary when you lead the Tour in GIR! Her putting stats are respectably unimpressive yet she leads the Tour in Rounds in the 60s.

How does she do it? Ryu explained after carding a career low and tournament record with her second round 61 at the WalMart NW Arkansas Championship that her secret is focus:

"I never see the big picture. I only focus on my ball, only on one hole, instead of thinking of the whole thing. I think that’s the main key, just, do not think about your career low score or win the tournament, just be the best."

So Yeon Ryu will be there, playing her game, one shot at a time, at Olympia Fields, and she’s very likely to glide right past any player who makes a mistake, bobbles a drive, or misses a putt.