Here are our Top 10 performances from this year's tournament:
1. SO-YEON RYU
74-69-69-69 - 281 (1)
Country: South Korea
World ranking: 21st
Twitter: @1Miss_R
Ryu has lived much her life in the playing shadows of her fellow countrywomen. Players like Seo, Jiyai Shin, I.K. Kim and former U.S. Women's Open champion Eun-Hee Ji have always been in the spotlight. But now, they need to make room for the latest shining star to join the elite group. Ryu was simply magical last week at the The Broadmoor's East Course, carving it up for three consecutive rounds of 3-under-par 69 to go along with her opening 2-over 74 en route to her first major championship. The 21-year-old college student back home in South Korea displayed impeccable concentration and brilliance when it counted most to defeat chief rival Seo in a three-hole, aggregate playoff Monday to close out the win. Ryu needed a birdie on the 18th hole to close the final round and force the extra holes, then put away Seo with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to stun the tournament field. Ryu isn't a full-time player on the LPGA Tour, due to the fact she is pursuing her degree and playing on the Korean LPGA Tour. Ryu is a player the LPGA Tour desperately needs playing in its tournaments on a weekly basis. Hopefully, a full-time move move to the biggest and most lucrative women's professional tour in the world comes sooner than later for the sport's newest star.
2. HEE KYUNG SEO
72-73-68-68 - 281 (2)
Country: South Korea
World ranking: 20th
One putt. One hole. It is kind of hard to pin your success or failure on one hole at a tournament, but that's exactly what happened late in Sunday's final round of the U.S. Women's Open. The South Korean star had the major championship in her grasp, but a three-putt bogey on the 17th hole left her clinging to a one-shot lead with eventual champion So-Yeon Ryu still on the course. Ryu would go on to birdie the 18th, thus forcing a three-hole, aggregate playoff with Seo, and win the tournament. Seo was simply magical over the final 36 holes, posting back-to-back rounds of 4-under 68 to put herself on top. Her consistent driving and precision putting were her bread and butter throughout the event, making her fun to watch as she chased her first major title and second victory overall after winning the 2010 Kia Classic as a non-tour member. The LPGA Tour sorely needs players who are skilled, yet marketable, at the same time. And Seo easily fits in that group already featuring the likes of Creamer, Wie and top-ranked player Yani Tseng. She is a potential top-five player and will be heard from consistently for months and years to come.
3. CRISTIE KERR
71-72-69-71 - 283 (3)
Country: United States
Ranking: 2nd
Twitter: @TheCristieKerr
Love her or hate her, there is no disputing the fact Kerr is our country's best and only week-in, week-out Amrican threat to enter the winner's circle. The world's No. 2-ranked player held a piece of the third-round lead at 1 under, but an even-par 72 combined with huge efforts from champion So-Yeon Ryu and runner-up Hee Kyung Seo in the final round resulted in her settling for third place. Kerr has become somewhat of a hard-luck loser this seaosn, winding up in the top four in seven of the past nine tournaments, including three second-place showings.The two-time major champion has yet to win in 2011, but we feel that will change and could come at the Women's British Open. Kerr is going to be a tournament favorite, having finished no worse than a tie for eighth place in four of the past five Women's British Open events.
4. ANGELA STANFORD
72-70-70-72 - 284 (4)
Country: United States
World ranking: 19th
Twitter: @Angela_Stanford
One of our favorite players, the American veteran has been on a roll as of late. The Texas Christian University product has five top-10 finishes in her last nine outings and was in contention for the win all weekend long in Colorado. Stanford wound up alone in fourth place, pushing her 2011 earnings over $500,000 and career money to almost $6 million. A true grinder, Stanford has shown she is still capable of big things and a victory this season would be no surprise.
5. RYANN O'TOOLE
69-72-75-71 - 287 (9)
Country: United States
World ranking: 121st
Move over, Paula Creamer. You have company on the American women's golf scene. One of the most promising U.S. golfers to come along since Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie, the LPGA and LPGA Futures Tour member contended for three rounds and wound up alone in ninth place during her Open debut. Her performance also earned her exemption into next year's U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run in Wisconsin. With America's future hopes of success resting on the shoulders of Creamer and Pressel, the door is open for O'Neill to join the party.
6. KARRIE WEBB
70-73-72-71 - T6 (286)
Country: Australia
World ranking: 9th
The two-time U.S. Women's Open champion (2001, 2002) and winner of seven majors lifetime continued to show she can play with the young guns of the tour, finishing in a tie for sixth place after four consistent rounds. One of the LPGA Tour's legends and member of the elite group of players to complete the career Grand Slam, Webb will chase her fourth Women's British Open crown later this month and add more tournament hardware to her Hall of fame shelves.
7. INBEE PARK
71-73-70-72 - 286 (T6)
Country: South Korea
World ranking: 12th
The youngest champion in U.S. Women's Open history has been model of consistency at the tournament, finishing no worse than a share of eighth place in four of the past five years. The 2008 champion, who played collegiately at UNLV, has been impressive in her last three tournaments on this year's LPGA Tour, finishing tied for ninth at the Sybase Match Play Championship and also earning a piece of 14th at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. Park, who moved to the United States as a youth, is a dangerous player weekly and should have more than one win under belt. That said, we won't be surprised if victory number two comes sooner than later.
8. MIKA MIYAZATO
70-67-76-72 - 285 (5)
Country: Japan
World ranking: 24th
Twitter: @Mikachin1010
Talk about a bittersweet tournament for the Japanese star. Miyazato rocketed the U.S. Women's Open lead, firing an event-low, 5-under 67 in the second round for a one-stroke edge over countrywoman Ai Miyazato at the halfway point. However, a nasty 76 in the third round knocked her out of first and she never completely recovered to get back in the mix. It was hard to not pull for Miyazato, who is donating all her major-tournament winnings to the Japan tsunami relief causes. Miyazato has had a strong campaign and we expect her to reach the winner's circle this season.
9. CHELLA CHOI
71-76-70-72 - 289 (T13)
Country: South Korea
World ranking: 111th
Twitter: @ChellaChoi
Not one of the more well-known golfers in the South Korean contingent, Choi made it clear she's ready to change that after her impressive effort this week in Colorado. Like Stupples, Choi flirted with the cut line in the opening rounds, but turned it around by playing the final 36 holes at 2 under and wound up taking a share of 13th place. Consistency has been an issue for Choi, but if she straightens things out, expect to see her among the leaders each week on tour.
10. KAREN STUPPLES
72-77-73-68 - 290 (T15)
Country: England
World ranking: 71st
Twitter: @Kstupples
The savvy Brit put together a solid weekend, highlighted by her final-round 68 en route to a share of 15th place at the U.S. Women's Open. Stupples just made the tournament cut and rallied her way to an impressive finish. Her 68 tied for Sunday's low round with Open runner-up Hee Kyung Seo. Expect big things from Stupples as the tour makes its annual journey overseas.
- Photos courtesy of Getty Images
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