Overview
- At the Nov. 17 LPGA awards in Naples, Miyu Yamashita received Rookie of the Year, becoming the third Japanese player to win the honor after Hiromi Kobayashi (1990) and Mao Saigo (last season).
- Yamashita’s first full LPGA season features two victories, including the AIG Women’s Open major.
- The CME Tour Championship begins Nov. 20 at Tiburon Golf Club, where Yamashita completed final practice on Nov. 19 and said consistent ball-striking can produce scores on the longer holes.
- She enters the finale second in the season standings, and a win this week would keep her in contention for the year-end points-based award.
- Japan’s contingent in Naples numbers eight, including Nasa Hataoka, Reo Takeda, Mao Saigo, Akie Iwai, Chisato Iwai, Minami Katsu and Ayaka Furue.