International Crown updates — Yealimi Noh wins Founders Cup
The IX: Golf Thursday with Marin Dremock, Feb. 13, 2025
Now that the first two tournaments of the LPGA Tour season have concluded and the LPGA has a week-long break, it’s about time to take a look at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown standings.
Continue reading with a subscription to The IX
Get unlimited access to our exclusive coverage of a varitety of women’s sports, including our premium newsletter by subscribing today!
Already a member?
Login
Welcome back to Golf Thursday, everyone.
Order ‘Becoming Caitlin Clark’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, just announced his latest book. It captures both the historic nature of Caitlin Clark’s rise along with the critical context, over the previous century, that helped make it possible — interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder, C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and so many others were vital to the process.
If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.
After the 2025 Founders Cup and winner Yealimi Noh wrapped up play on Sunday, Feb. 9, the country and world team standings for October’s Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown were updated.
In case you’re not keyed in, the International Crown, being held this year from Oct. 23–26 in the Republic of Korea, features eight teams competing for one international title. For the first three days, the teams will play fourball matches. On the final day, teams will battle for the championship in a combination of singles and foursomes matches.
This year, there will be seven country teams and one world team in the field. The addition of the world team allows elite players such as Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Gaby Lopez and more to compete internationally if each of their individual countries would not be able to qualify. (A country must have a minimum of four ranked players to be eligible for team status.)
Throughout the LPGA season, the country and world team standings get updated with newly qualifying countries and players through the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (WWGR). Here’s where we stand after the Founders Cup.
The top seven country teams are as follows: USA, Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Sweden and the People’s Republic of China. Following behind the People’s Republic of China are Germany, England and France.
The USA’s top four players as of now are Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin. Megan Khang is in the fifth spot.
“International Crown in Korea is like my big, big (goal),” Coughlin said after the Founders Cup. “I’ve played in Korea a couple times and just the thought of doing it in that type of setting seems like almost too good to be true. So that’s like my big one that I’m focusing, everything I’m doing is kind of going to try to make this team.”
Thailand, defending Crown champions, has a pretty stacked top four: Jeeno Thitikul, Patty Tavatanakit, Ariya Jutanugarn and Chanettee Wannasaen.
Notably, the Republic of Korea team moved into solo second place. Jin Young Ko finished second at the Founders Cup, bumping her up to seven in the WWGR and boosting Korea’s spot.
In the world team, Brooke Henderson, Celine Boutier, Peiyun Chien and Lydia Ko round out the top four players. Reserves players for the world team are Gaby Lopez, Charley Hull, Aditi Ashok and Ashleigh Buhai.
The top seven countries will be finalized using the combined WWGR of the top four players from each country after the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on June 23. After the 2025 AIG Women’s Open on Aug. 4, the full field of 32 players will be finalized again using the published WWGR.
The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom
The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.
Readers of The IX now save 50% on their subscription to The Next.
The top four players from each qualified country team will qualify to compete in the field. The four players from the world team will be named using this same method.
Continue to keep an eye out for the updated standings of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown after every tournament this season. There’s a lot of movement, especially on the world side with so many fiery players vying for spots.
This week in women’s golf
LPGA News
USGA announces qualifying sites for 2025 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally
LPGA and Hero Digital debut new mobile app with enhanced features for fans
Noh doubt: Yealimi Noh becomes Rolex First-Time Winner at Founders Cup
Meet the 13 founders of the LPGA
Ready to tee off! Honda LPGA Thailand
LET News
Watch live: 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International
Field breakdown: 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International
How will the format work at the PIF Saudi Ladies International?
LET heads to Riyadh for PIF Saudi Ladies International
The LET Golf Podcast | Metraux sisters
Gainer clinches first LET victory in playoff at season opener
Epson Tour News
Epson Tour grad Madison Young makes first cut as LPGA member at Founders Cup
Epson Tour grads get first glimpse of LPGA Tour competition at Founders Cup
Amateur/NCAA News
Defending champion Lottie Woad included as Augusta National Women’s Amateur 2025 field confirmed
Ting, Woad lead Florida State to title defense at Collegiate Invitational
Gia Raad recovers from slow start to win Africa Amateur Women’s Championship
17-year-old Rachel Lee brings Australian Women’s Amateur title back home
Five at The IX: Yealimi Noh wins the 2025 Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands.
In a valiant effort to hold off Jin Young Ko, Yealimi Noh walked away from the 2025 Founders Cup with her first LPGA Tour win. Noh shot a final round 68 (-3) to win by four strokes and snag 500 points early on in the Race to the CME Globe. After the finish, Noh spoke about channeling her excitement, sticking to her routine and waiting for that first win.
THE MODERATOR: All right, I am very pleased to be joined by this year’s Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands champion, Yealimi Noh.
Q. What was the most important thing you learned from previous experience that you applied today?
YEALIMI NOH: Just really focusing on my tempo. With nerves and excitement everything gets a little quick for me and that really translates into my swing and I start to always miss it right.
I kept it really calm and good tempo is all I was focusing on today.
Q. What does it mean that your first victory came going toe to toe with one of the best players in the last ten years?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, it was amazing. Being paired with Jin Young for the last two days, it was my first time playing with her yesterday and it was awesome to watch. I knew she wasn’t going to make any mistakes and be really solid.
When I saw my opportunity and I kept it together, I was really proud of myself. It was awesome to watch her play and learn from her, too.
Q. I know you’ve been out here since 2020. Was there any point that you doubted you would get a win, or you knew it was just a matter of time?
YEALIMI NOH: I always knew it would happen and it was a matter of time. I was like when and why isn’t it coming. A lot of my peers and like girls around my age and just coming in at the same time getting their wins, I always was like, I know I can do it, but when is it coming.
Seeing my competitors and friends win always gave my extra motivation. To really get it done, and especially in the first tournament of the year, is really nice.
Q. For you, it looked like you played as confidently as any of us have seen out there. What hit different with your confidence?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, I think just coming into not only this week, but into the year, I just really told myself I got a lot of my confidence back at the end the year last year. That just really pushed me through this offseason.
I didn’t — I feel like I didn’t do anything extra in the offseason. I wasn’t trying to be like more, do more, and be more. I was a lot more confident and that came in the rounds last year.
Q. You talked about seeing some people that you started with getting their wins. How difficult is it to stay true to yourself when you know it’s coming, just hasn’t happened for you yet?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, thankfully I have the best team around me. My parents and my friends and coaches have always told me everyone’s story is different and everyone has their own timing. Just staying true to myself and knowing it will come, just not pressuring myself, everyone is different, everyone’s life will be different.
Yeah, just staying patient.
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
