Photo: DR

At Olympia Fields, site of the US Open men in 2003

It is at Olympia Fields, in the great suburbs of Chicago, that the second female Major of the season is held this week. Beginning of the debates this Thursday June 29 and end of the tournament on Sunday July 2. Pile the dates of the Men's HNA Open in France, which will therefore create a bit of media competition for these ladies, since a large part of the observers of European golf will be at this week's Golf National in Guyancourt, a very special edition a big year before the Ryder 2018 Cup in France. That said, even at a good distance from Illinois, we will keep a very keen eye on this KMPG. On the famous site of Olympia Fields which saw the memorable victory of Jim Furyk during the Men's US Open in 2003, discussions between girls may indeed be very lively. Because the context of this year is particularly open, "very open" even.

More domination at Annika Sörenstam for Lydia Ko

While Lydia Ko, the young gifted New Zealander, seemed to have to completely phagocyte female golf after her victory in September 2015 at the Evian Championship, then her second success in Major in April 2016 at Ana Inspiration, now her rivals are rebelling . It is true, thanks to a small drop in Lydia's regime in the first half of the 2017 season. More domination without sharing Annika Sörenstam or Lorena Ochoa for Mademoiselle Ko in recent weeks. on June 12, the other formidable teenager on the circuit, the Thai Ariya Jutanugarn stole her place of world number 1. Pride of very short duration since on June 26, it was the South Korean So Yeon Ryu who was already sting Ariya the number 1 tiara.

So Yeon Ryu arrives at KPMG as world number 1 brand new

At 26, Ryu has thus become the eleventh leader in the world female ranking since its creation in 2006. Already winner of the first Major of the season last April at Ana Inspiration in Rancho Mirage (California), the young woman owes her planetary crown brand new to another recent LPGA Tour win on June 25 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Only player to have crossed the $ 1 million mark for this 2017 semi-season ($ 1 exactly), she is also at the top of the LPGA Tour Money List ahead of the American Lexi Thompson (212 dollars). That said, its position as leader of the Rolex Rankings is fragile when you know that Ariya Jutanugarn, Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson are respectively number 820, 999 and 590 world behind it.

After an agitated Ana Inspiration, revenge for Lexi Thompson?

Not the kind of girl watching the train pass without reacting… Lydia Ko first, who we saw manifesting a little annoyance when questions about the loss of her status as world number 1 have accumulated in the last tournaments of the regular circuit. As for Lexi Thompson, whose broad shoulders seem made for the top coat of the world female golf leader, she arrives at Olympia Fields with undoubtedly a small idea of ​​revenge behind her head. The American athletic, 1,83 meters under the height, should have won the Ana Inspiration last April without an incredible scenario: in view of the flag of 18 and the Ana's cup, she was penalized by two shots for a ball misplaced… the day before in the third round! A fact reported by an American viewer and quickly taken into account by the golfing authorities after re-viewing the video.

Five French women decided, even far from the head of Rolex Rankings

It is thanks to this surprise penalty, twenty-four hours after the "offense", that So Yeon Ryu, provisional leader at the clubhouse, could leave in play-off with Lexi Thompson, the South Korean picking almost logically the Floridienne, well sure to run out of emotional reserves. Revenge is now at Olympia Fields! With a good bunch of petticoats, all motivated by this opening up of the world hierarchy that the (very) relative fall in power of the "real" Lydia Ko has created. For the French, five in number this week in Chicago, world leadership is still only a very distant dream if we stick to the realism of their position at the Rolex Rankings.

Gwladys Nocera and Phil Mickelson - © Gwladys Nocera via Twitter

Perrine Delacour as the youngest and Gwladys Nocera as the freshest dean

Karine Icher, despite a good season on the LPGA Tour, is "only" 36th in the world. Excellent for her. But in absolute terms, hardly speaking. Especially in comparison with the rankings of many French sportswomen from other disciplines. A real big "perf" in Major would change everything. Even more true for the four other Bleues competing at Olympia Fields. Joanna Klatten is 220th in the world, Gwladys Nocera 245th, Perrine Delacour 270th and Céline Herbin 284th. Far from the elite. But that does not rule out a coup. Like the one recorded by Perrine Delacour, the youngest of the group, formidable 7th of the Manulife LPGA Classic on June 8th. As for Gwladys Nocera, the eldest Tricolor with her 42 spring units, she approaches this KPMG Women's PGA Championship with freshness. Evidenced by this post on her account @GlaNocera where she poses with Phil Mickelson, present on site: “So cool. With my fav 'player. Like a kid! "