The Ladies Professional Golf Association is one of the most interesting professional sporting leagues in the world. While the world-class players can dominate tournaments, there’s always the chance that an up-and-coming player could steal a title on any week.
The 2026 season has started with dominance from the No. 1 player in the world, Nelly Korda, but others have slipped into the winner’s circle as well.
Here are four players to keep an eye on during the rest of the 2026 season:
Nelly Korda — United States
Nelly Korda, 27, is arguably one of the most popular women’s golfers. Her smooth swing is nearly flawless, and she’s been a relevant player on tour since she turned professional in 2016 at age 17 and earned her LPGA Tour card the following year.
Korda has played in seven events so far in 2026 and hasn’t finished lower than 10th place in any of those starts. She started the season with a win at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions before rattling off three straight second-place finishes. She broke her streak of seconds at the Chevron Championship, the women’s first major championship of the year, with a win, which she followed with a win at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. Her most recent tournament was her worst of the season so far, tied for eighth place at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
Korda’s start to the 2026 season is reminiscent of the beginning of her 2024 season, in which Korda won six of the first eight events she played en route to a seven-win season.
Her dominance has been noticed by athletes from other fields, like NBA superstar LeBron James, who posted on X while Korda was closing out the Chevron Championship in late April.
Whether or not Korda’s success throughout the rest of the 2026 season will be sustained is still in question, but it’s one reason to watch the LPGA throughout the rest of the season. While Korda is the No. 1 player in the world, she only has three career major championships. With four more majors remaining on the LPGA schedule, Korda could make her major total grow by the end of 2026.
Charley Hull — England
Charley Hull, 30, is one of the more charismatic players on the LPGA. She went viral in 2024 for her on-course smoking habit, which she gave up a year later. She’s authentic in press conferences, and aggressive in her play style, making her a favorite among LPGA fans.
As the No. 7 player in the world, Hull last won an LPGA tournament in September 2025 when she claimed the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. She also won a tournament on the Ladies European Tour in February 2026.
Hull has yet to win her first major championship, despite turning professional in 2013 and joining the LPGA Tour in 2015. Her best finishes in majors were at the 2016 Chevron Championship, where she placed tied for second, losing to three-time major winner Lydia Ko. Hull also finished second at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open and tied for second in the 2025 iteration of the event.
Hull just has two top-10 finishes in seven starts so far this season. She’s also finished tied for 15th, tied for 17th, tied for 40th and missed two cuts in 2026, but this season could present an opportunity for Hull to win her first major.
Lydia Ko — New Zealand
Lydia Ko, 29, also turned pro in 2013, but joined the LPGA Tour in 2014. Despite not being 30 yet, Ko has racked up 23 LPGA Tour wins, three major championships and an Olympic gold medal for New Zealand in 2024.
With her gold medal in 2024, Ko became a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, which operates on a points-based system. At 27 years old, Ko became the youngest player in the Hall of Fame under the current criteria and the 35th all time.
While Ko is only 29, it’s been reported that the Hall of Famer will retire in 2027, meaning her time competing on the tour will come to a close soon.
Ko’s best finishes of the 2026 season were a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and Ford Championship Presented by Wild Horse Pass.
Lottie Woad — England
Lottie Woad, 22, is one of the rising stars in professional women’s golf. Woad turned professional in July 2025 after a tied-for-third finish at the Amundi Evian Championship, a major championship. Two weeks later, Woad won her professional debut at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open with a three-shot victory over Hyo Joo Kim.
Woad is coming off her most recent win at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, where she claimed a two-shot victory over three-time LPGA winner Haeran Ryu, which raised Woad to No. 5 in the world rankings.
While Woad’s professional career is just starting, she has good chances to claim her first major championship in her young career this season.
