The foundation of Haeran Ryu's incredible 2026 season is her premiere ball-striking. She leads the LPGA in greens in regulation this season at 79.14. For perspective, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul is her closest competitor in that category at 74.75. World No. 1 Nelly Korda checks in at 72.45.
The mark Ryu is chasing – 79.74 – was set by Annika Sorenstam and 2001 and matched again by the Swede in 2002.
No LPGA player has ever averaged 80 percent or higher in the greens in regulation category.
Former No. 1 Jin Young Ko came close to Sorenstam's record in 2019 at 79.56.
Ryu's two titles this season came at majors. First she won the KPMG Women's PGA after taking more than a month off for a minor surgery. Two weeks later, she won the Amundi Evian Championship
with a third-round 60, setting a record for the lowest round in a major championship.
Ryu opened the FM Championship with a 4-under 68, hitting 15 greens in regulation and taking 29 putts. She trails compatriot Sei Young Kim by four strokes at TPC Boston.
Ryu trails Korda in a number of categories, including official money ($4,432,201), CME points, Player of the Year points and scoring average.
Currently 77 points behind Korda in the POY race, Ryu's 69.51 scoring average is 0.37 strokes behind Korda's 69.14 average.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Two-time major winner chasing this all-time Annika Sorenstam record
