Yang Heeyoung Jumps from 79th to 51st in World Rankings After Runner-Up Finish in Season Opener

Earns Points for Second Place at Hilton Grand Vacations
Thitikul, Korda, and Minjee Lee Maintain Top 3
Kim Hyojoo 9th, Kim Seyoung 10th, Hwang Yoomin 28th

Veteran Yang Heeyoung has climbed to 51st in the world rankings.

In the weekly women's golf world rankings announced on February 2 (local time), she earned 1.89 points, jumping an impressive 28 spots from 79th last week. She accumulated ranking points by finishing as runner-up at the LPGA Tour 2026 season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (total prize money of 2.1 million dollars), which concluded the previous day in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Yang Heeyoung is reading the putting line on the 17th hole of the final 3rd round at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Orlando=AFP Yonhap News

In the final fourth round, Yang Heeyoung was aiming for her seventh career victory since the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, a major tournament held in June 2024, but was hampered by severe weather. The tournament was suspended the previous day due to strong winds, and on this day, the start was delayed because of sub-zero temperatures. As a result, the LPGA Tour reduced the event from 72 holes over four days to a 54-hole tournament.

Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) firmly held onto the top spot. Nelly Korda (USA), who won the season opener, remained in second place. Minjee Lee (Australia) ranked third, Miyu Yamashita (Japan) was fourth, and Charley Hull (England) rounded out the top five. For Korea, Kim Hyojoo ranked ninth and Kim Seyoung ranked tenth, placing two Korean golfers in the top 10. Hwang Yoomin, who tied for fifth in the season opener, moved up four spots from 32nd last week to 28th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.