The Top 10 Female Golfers in 2008

The male counterparts get the bigger share of theboth the Safeway International and Kraft Nabisco
limelight when it comes to golf. However, manytournaments.
outstanding female golfers have made the gameShe went on to win the Michelob ULTRA Open at
interesting and are receiving more media attentionKingsmill, and then the LPGA Championship. On the
than ever. Here's the list for the top 10 femaleLadies European Tour, she won the SAS Masters in
golfers in 2008.Norway. At the Longs Drugs Challenge she won her
#1: Lorena Ochoa. Lorena is a Mexican golfer and isthird LPGA victory. On December 31, 2007, Suzann
currently ranked #1. She took up golf at the age ofreached the #2 position in the Women's World Golf
five and turned professional in 2002. 2007 proved toRankings.
be a successful year for Lorena, for she overtook#6: Ji-Yai Shin. She is currently playing on the LPGA
Annika Sörenstam to become the worldof Korea Tour. She has broken all existing KLPGA
number one ranked golfer. In August 2007, Ochoarecords, winning 10 events in 19 starts on the KLPGA
won her first major championship at the Women'sTour in 2007. Shin played at the Women's Australian
British Open. She won the next two LPGA events,Open where she finished 2nd, losing to Karrie Webb
the CN Canadian Women's Open and the Safewayin a playoff. However, she won the 2008 Women's
Classic, the first to win three consecutive eventsBritish Open, which took her into the top ten position.
since Annika Sörenstam in 2005. Also in 2007,In 2009, Shin will be a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
Lorena became the first woman ever to earn more#7: Cristie Kerr. Cristie started playing golf at the age
than $4 million in a single season, surpassing Annikaof eight & turned professional in 1996. By 2004,
Sörenstam's previous record of $2.8 million.she was one of the leading players on the tour, with
#2: Tseng Yani. She turned professional in Januarythree tournament victories, and a fifth place finish on
2007 and at the tender age of 19 (as of X'masthe money list. She won two tournaments in 2005
2008), she holds the second position. After finishingand moved up to third on the money list. Besides
sixth in the final LPGA Qualifying Tournament inplaying golf, Cristie is also active in the fundraising for
December 2007, Tseng earned full playing privilegesbreast cancer research. She has a foundation called
on the LPGA Tour for 2008. In June 2008, sheBirdies for Breast Cancer and has raised $250,000
claimed her first LPGA tour victory - the LPGAsince 2004.
Championship. She's the girl to watch for the next#8: Helen Alfredsson. She is a Swedish professional
few years.golfer who plays mainly on the U.S. based LPGA Tour.
#3: Annika Sörenstam. She is a SwedishHelen began her professional career in 1989, and won
professional golfer whose achievements rank her asher first win at the Women's British Open the
one of the most successful golfers in history. She hasfollowing year . She topped the money list in Europe
won 72 official LPGA tournaments, and tops thein 1998. Helen is married to Kent Nilsson and is the
LPGA's career money list with earnings of over $22stepmother of his son.
million. On 13 May 2008, Sörenstam announced#9: Angela Stanford. Angela was born in Texas and
that she would "step away" from competitive golf atturned professional in 2000 and won her first game in
the end of the 2008 season. Let's hope shethe Duramed Futures Tour. She went on to finish 4th
continues to be involved in the sport after herin the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament that year,
retirement.which exempts her on the LPGA Tour in 2001. She
#4: Paula Creamer. In her four seasons as awished that she could play hockey instead if she
professional, she has won 10 tournaments, includingcould.
eight LPGA Tour events. Paula has been as high as#10: Karrie Anne Webb. Karrie is Australia's most
No. 2 in the Women's World Golf Rankings. She is alsosuccessful female golfer, and one of the top players
the youngest and quickest player to reach $1 millionin the history of global women's golf. She began her
in LPGA career earnings. She has many endorsementprofessional golfing career in 1994 playing on the
deals under her belt, with brand names such asLadies European Tour where she finished second at
Adidas, NEC, RBS & Bridgestone.the Australian Ladies Open and the Futures Tour in
Paula has a nickname "Pink Panther" due to herthe US, where she won one tournament. In 1996,
fondness of wearing pink.Karrie won her first LPGA tournament. She won
#5: Suzann Pettersen. Suzann is a Norwegianthree other tournaments and become the first LPGA
professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S.player to win $1 million in a single season topping the
based LPGA Tour. She turned professional inyear end money list. She was also the 1996 LPGA
September 2000. 2007 proved to be a fruitful yearRookie of the Year.
for her. She was selected to represent Norway atLook out for my other article on "The Top 10 Male
the Women's World Cup of Golf but withdrew dueGolfers in 2008" as well.
to illness. She recorded her best finish, second, in