Akie Iwai made the most impactful move in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings following the Honda LPGA Thailand, jumping up eight spots to No. 25 in the world after falling just short at the Old Course at Siam Country Club. The 2025 LPGA Tour rookie played solid in Thailand, finishing with an eagle on the par-5 18th hole to finish in solo second in just her second start as a Tour member.

The 22-year-old is in her first year on Tour, earning LPGA Tour Membership for the 2025 season by finishing in a tie for fifth at the Final Qualifying portion of LPGA Q-Series. Iwai is no stranger to the winner's circle, having won six times on the JLPGA Tour, so her success last week could be the breakthrough moment that propels her to become a Rolex First-Time winner this season.

Chasing the Crown

The Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown will be held over four days from Oct. 23 to 26 at New Korea Country Club in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, later this season. The top seven countries and, for the first time, one world team will compete for one crown.

The countries participating will be determined by the combined Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings of the top four players from each nation after the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June. The final field of 32 players will be determined after the conclusion of the 2025 AIG Women's Open on Aug. 4, with the top four players in the Rolex Rankings from each country serving as the team’s four representatives.

There's nothing like a home game to get a boost of momentum. Thailand natives Jeeno Thitikul, Patty Tavatanakit, Ariya Jutanugarn and Chanettee Wannasaen were looking to capitalize on an opportunity last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand to secure a spot on Team Thailand ahead of October's Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown.

Thitikul is securely on the team at this juncture, as the 22-year-old is currently sitting at second in the Rolex Rankings, and Tavatanakit is the next highest-ranked Thai player behind her at 22nd in the standings. But Jutanugarn, who is ranked No. 41 in the world, now holds a narrow lead ahead of Wannasaen, who is 45th. Jutanugarn's T14 finish in Thailand lifted her two spots in the Rolex Rankings to increase the gap. Pajaree Anannarukarn, who is working to compete in her first International Crown, is currently on the outside looking in, trailing Wannasaen by 15 spots after finishing T17 at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

The U.S. Team is the top-seeded team with 35 points, led by Nelly Korda. Korda's teammate at the 2023 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, Lilia Vu, is seeded second. Angel Yin continued her hot start to 2025, following up her 10th place finish at the Founder's Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands with a win last week in Thailand. The performance moved her to No. 12 in the Rolex Rankings, which helped her leapfrog Rose Zhang to move into the No. 3 spot on the U.S. Team.

Germany and England are tied for the eighth spot, the first countries outside the seven automatic team qualifiers. England's Georgia Hall moved from No. 82 to No. 74 with her tie for ninth at the Honda LPGA Thailand, while her fellow countrywoman Charley Hull reclaimed the European berth on the World Team after jumping from No. 11 to No. 9 in the Rolex Rankings, passing France's Celine Boutier, who dropped to No. 10.

Rio Takeda Leads Rookie of the Year Race

Rio Takeda holds the lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award standings and is ahead of Akie Iawi by 34 points after tying for ninth at the Honda LPGA Thailand. While the Japan native has yet to find herself inside the winner's circle this season, Takeda has earned two top-10 results so far, finishing solo eighth at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Championship in January before her T9 showing last week.

The rookie won her first LPGA Tour title at the 2024 TOTO Japan Classic in her home country last season. She didn't accept the immediate membership she was offered as part of her non-member victory, instead deferring her status until 2025, making her a member of the 2025 LPGA Tour rookie class.

Making Moves: Akie Iwai Moves Up Eight Spots in Rolex Rankings

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