By Mike May


As we approach the end of 2024,

We’ve seen performances that will go down in L-P-G-A lore.

Those seven wins by Nelly (Korda) deserve top billing,

As her five straight wins were simply thrilling.

After Nelly won Chevron, she jumped in that big pond.

It’s a Chevron champions’ aquatic bond.

Hannah Green had two wins in Asia and one in L-A.

Her Wiltshire win was a clinic of how to play on the L-P-G-A.

There were another three victories by Ronny Yin,

One was a victory in Shanghai, a hometown win.

Lauren Coughlin had two wins in her breakout year.

Expect more success from Lauren as I don’t expect her to disappear.

What can be written or said about Lydia Ko…

….that we already don’t know?

Her Olympic win put her in the L-P-G-A Hall of Fame.

To earn that honor, you must have a top-notch game.

Lydia is the only golfer with Olympic medals colored bronze, silver, and gold.

That kind of athletic success is historic and never gets old.

One of Lydia’s big wins was The Open at St. Andrews on the Old Course.

She won because she avoided the pot bunkers….and the thick, nasty gorse.

The Evian winner was Ayaka Furue (Food-A-Way) who won in France.

She prevailed because she knew when to throw caution-to-the-wind…..and take a chance.

At Evian, Jodie Ewart-Shadoff missed the cut by far,

But her first-round ace won her a brand new Porsche car!

Yuka Saso’s U.S. Open win was the result of superior play.

She clearly loved that U.S. Open layout in Lancaster, P-A.

Amy Yang won the P-G-A, sponsored by K-P-M-G.

That Sahalee win was simply meant to be.

Linnea Strom’s final-round Shoprite-60 was finished well before TV coverage began.

To win, she had to patiently wait and watch the golf like a fan.

Jasmine (Suwanapura) picked up her third career win at Walmart’s Pinnacle C-C.

That means she’ll wear three facial victory stars for all to see.

The Solheim Cup attracted a large crowd every day.

The vast majority of fans were there to cheer for Team U-S-A.

U.S. captain Stacey Lewis led her team with her heart and soul.

Winning the Solheim Cup was always her goal.

At Solheim, the most enthusiastic U.S. player was Megan Khang.

She led by example for the rest of the U.S. gang.

This poem also honors Ally (Ewing) and Brittany (Lincicome) who are jumping off the L-P-G-A ‘train,’

They will soon start living life in a different lane.

We will still see Lexi (Thompson) compete from time to time.

But, the exact details won’t be revealed in this year’s rhyme.

Finally, Jeeno’s (Thitikul) win at CME will go down in history,

The key to her win was the 3-3-3 finish to secure the victory.

Roses are red and violets are blue.

It’s always an honor crafting this poem for each of you.

Nelly Korda
Hannah Green
Ruoning (Ronny) Yin
Lauren Coughlin
Lydia Ko
Ayaka Furue
Jodie Ewart-Shadoff
Yuka Saso
Amy Yang
Linnea Strom
Jasmine Suwannapura
Stacey Lewis
Megan Khang
Ally Ewing
Brittany Linscicome
Lexi Thompson

Mike May

Mike is a Wellington, Florida-based freelance golf and sportswriter, who is also a 25+ year public relations and communications executive in the sporting goods industry. He is also a veteran high school soccer official, an experienced high school basketball coach, an avid athlete, a part-time personal trainer, and a passionate golfer who is forever in pursuit of Old Man Par. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America.  Mike is the editor in chief of the Indiana Golf Journal (IndianaGolfJournal.com) and a correspondent for 10 other editorial golf outlets.

His current position with the LPGA Tour is project manager for R2 Innovative Technologies, the official scoring provider of the LPGA Tour.


Photos by:
Beverly and Greg Wise
Golf the Wise Way