Chisato Iwai made the most impactful move in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings following her victory at the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba last week, jumping up eight spots to No. 37, which is the highest rank of her young LPGA Tour career. The 2025 rookie played solidly in Mexico, finishing with a 6-under 66 and winning by six shots over Epson Tour graduate Jenny Bae to become the fifth Rolex First-Time Winner and third rookie to clinch a title in 2025.

The 22-year-old is in her first year on Tour, earning LPGA Tour Membership for this season by finishing in solo second at the Final Qualifying portion of LPGA Q-Series in 2024. Iwai turned professional in 2021, first joining the JLPGA, and is no stranger to the winner's circle, having won eight titles on the Japanese circuit, most recently doing so at the Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament earlier this year.

Iwai is making her third start in the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally at Erin Hills and tees off at 7:51 a.m. in Wisconsin alongside Republic of Korea native Jin Hee Im and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

Rio Takeda Leads Rookie of the Year Race

Rio Takeda has a commanding lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award standings, currently sitting ahead of Chisato Iwai by 168 points despite a rare missed cut at the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.

The Japan native has earned five top-10 results this year, including a win at the Blue Bay LPGA in March. She finished solo eighth at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January, tied for ninth at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February, came solo fifth at the Black Desert Championship presented by Greater Zion earlier this month and tied for eighth at the Mizuho Americas Open just a couple of weeks ago.

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.

The 22-year-old made her U.S. Women's Open and major-championship debut at Lancaster Country Club in 2024 and finished in a share of ninth to automatically earn a spot in the field at the 2025 championship. She tees off tomorrow on 10 at 7:18 a.m. and is grouped with Australia’s Hannah Green and American Lauren Coughlin.

Jeeno Thitikul Holds Top Spot in the Race to CME Globe

The 2025 Race to the CME Globe continues this week at the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally with 650 points on the line, and it’s Thailand native Jeeno Thitikul who holds the lead in the season-long competition. With one win this season at the Mizuho Americas Open and five additional top-10 finishes, Thitikul is just 426.325 points ahead of Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings No. 7 Hyo Joo Kim (1,052.125 points) in the standings, who has a win at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, as well as three additional top 10s this season.

American Angel Yin is in solo third with 975.800 points. The 26-year-old matches Thitikul and Kim with one win this season, capturing her second Tour victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand. In fourth place is Mao Saigo with 968.942 points, who has earned a major win this season at The Chevron Championship, also collecting two additional top-10 results. Rounding out the top five is Rio Takeda with 928.767 points, as the Japan native has a win this year at the Blue Bay LPGA and has earned four additional top-10 finishes in 11 starts.

Making Moves: Chisato Iwai Jumps to Highest Rolex Ranking in Her Career After Win in Mexico

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