Best short game in women’s golf history is a title often given to Annika Sorenstam, thanks to her world-class chipping, perfect spin control, and amazing ability to save par from anywhere.
Her short game helped her win 10 major championships and dominate the LPGA Tour for years.
Lydia Ko is another legend. As Golf Digest points out, Ko’s short game is known for being calm and clever, especially her up-and-down skills and soft putting touch around the greens.
Many experts rank her among the top for scrambling and putting averages on tour.
This article looks at what makes a short game great, who the top players are, and how their skills near the green made golf history.
Comparison of LPGA Golfers Based on Short Game Efficiency
| Player | Strokes Gained (Around Green) | Scrambling % | Sand Save % | Putting Avg (Per Round) |
| Lydia Ko | 0.55 | 64% | 58% | 28.5 |
| Annika Sörenstam | 0.48 | 62% | 60% | 29.0 |
| Celine Boutier | 0.52 | 64% | 56% | 28.9 |
| Minjee Lee | 0.47 | 61% | 55% | 29.2 |
| Danielle Kang | 0.44 | 59% | 53% | 29.5 |
Note: The table highlights top LPGA players with elite short game stats. Lydia Ko leads with a strokes gained score of 0.55, a 64% scrambling rate, and a 28.5 putting average, making her the standout performer.
What Defines an Elite Short Game in Women’s Golf
Why a Great Short Game Is the Secret to Lower Scores in Women’s Golf
As a golf pro, I can tell you that your short game is where you save strokes. Hitting long drives might look impressive, but it’s the scrambling and putting that turn bogeys into pars and pars into birdies.
On the LPGA Tour, players with the best short game stats often finish at the top. That’s because they know how to recover quickly when they miss the green.
What Are the Most Important Short Game Skills for LPGA Players
Clutch Putting Under Pressure
Putting is all about confidence and focus. The best players make short, important putts when it matters most.
Chipping With Elite Touch Around the Green
Top LPGA golfers like Lydia Ko chip with incredible control. This skill requires soft hands, great feel, and the ability to manage spin and roll.
Wedge Control for Spin and Trajectory
Using wedges to fly the ball high and stop it fast shows perfect control. This technique helps players attack tough pin positions.
Bunker Play That Saves Pars
Getting up and down from the sand is critical. Annika Sörenstam’s sand saves were famous for keeping her score low under pressure.
How Is Short Game Performance Measured on the LPGA Tour
To see who truly has the best short game in women’s golf, analysts look at these four key stats:
- Strokes Gained: Around the Green – how many strokes a player saves with chip shots, pitches, and bunker shots
- Strokes Gained: Putting – how many strokes are gained through better-than-average putting
- Scrambling Percentage – how often a player saves par after missing the green
- Sand Save Percentage – how often a player makes par after hitting from a bunker
These stats show us who controls the green under pressure, and who consistently keeps scores low with short game mastery.
The Legends: Top Short Game Women’s Players in LPGA History
Was Annika Sorenstam’s Short Game the Most Technically Sound in LPGA History
As a pro golfer, I’ve studied Annika Sörenstam closely, and her short game was all about precision and consistency.
With 10 major wins and a career full of low scores, she used smart wedge play, perfect distance control, and calm putting to win under pressure.
Her short game was methodical, not flashy, but incredibly effective. Whether it was chipping from tight lies or saving par from bunkers, she made it look routine. Many of us learned to trust fundamentals by watching her play.
Did Karrie Webb Have the Most Creative Short Game in Women’s Golf
Karrie Webb was different; she played with feel and imagination.
When I saw her around the greens, she was never afraid to try different shots: flop shots, low runners, and perfect spin from tough lies. Her bunker play was some of the best on tour.
What made her short game special was that she trusted her instincts. She didn’t just play by the book; she played what the shot needed, and that takes real talent.
Is Inbee Park the Best Putter in LPGA History
If you’re talking putting under pressure, no one beats Inbee Park. She has 7 major titles, and her putting average was often below 29.
We call her the “Silent Assassin” because she made clutch putts without showing any emotion.
Her calm setup, smooth tempo, and green reading were world-class.
Many young players today model their putting routine after hers; it’s that reliable.
Was Se Ri Pak the Most Clutch Short Game Player of Her Era
I still remember watching Se Ri Pak win the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open in a playoff; she was just fearless. Her chip shots and sand saves under pressure showed how strong her mental game was.
She made big moments look easy, and that’s the mark of a great short game. Her success also inspired a generation of Korean golfers who now dominate the LPGA.
Top LPGA Short Game Legends Women’s in Golf – Profile Comparison Table
| Player | Short Game Strength | Career Majors | Signature Skill | Notable Moment |
| Annika Sörenstam | Precision and consistency | 10 | Wedge control and up-and-down ability | Dominated the LPGA with methodical short game |
| Karrie Webb | Creativity and imagination | 7 | Bunker play and shot variety | Known for feeling shots under pressure |
| Inbee Park | Calm, clutch putting | 7 | Putting average and green reading | “Silent Assassin” with consistent putting |
| Se Ri Pak | Mental toughness under fire | 5 | Sand saves and clutch chips | 1998 U.S. Women’s Open playoff win |
Note: This table highlights four of the greatest short game performers in LPGA history.
Who Has the Best Wedge Control on the LPGA Tour Today
Is Lydia Ko the Most Skilled Short Game Player on the LPGA Right Now
As a pro, when I watch Lydia Ko, it’s clear she has some of the softest hands in golf. Her chipping and putting are world-class, and she always seems calm around the green.
Ko often ranks near the top in Strokes Gained: Putting and Scrambling Percentage, which means she saves par more than most players when she misses the green.
Her wedge control is excellent; she can fly the ball high and stop it close to the hole, even from tough lies. That’s what makes her short game feel so automatic.
How Do Minjee Lee and Danielle Kang Compare in Short Golf Game Stats
Both Minjee Lee and Danielle Kang have powerful short games built on smart decisions and steady hands.
Minjee Lee is known for her scrambling consistency; she rarely wastes strokes when she misses a green.
Her bunker game is solid, and she plays smart chips that leave short putts.
Danielle Kang, on the other hand, shines in sand saves and quick recovery shots. She’s aggressive around the green but rarely out of control.
Golf Digest has even listed both players among the best when it comes to short game stats and control.
Why Is Celine Boutier Considered a Short Game Specialist
Céline Boutier is one of the most reliable short game players today, especially under pressure.
She was a hero in the Solheim Cup, where she made key putts and chips to help her team. In her 2023 Evian Championship win, her short game saved her again and again.
What stands out is her clutch putting; she stays calm even when everything is on the line.
Her scrambling rate is among the best, and she always seems to make the smart choice near the green. That’s what makes her a short game specialist.
LPGA Tour’s Best Wedge Control & Short Game Performers – Comparison Table
| Player | Strengths | Strokes Gained (Putting) | Scrambling % | Sand Save % | Notable Moment |
| Lydia Ko | Chipping, putting, wedge control | +1.93 | 64% | 58% | Consistently top in SG: Putting |
| Minjee Lee | Scrambling, greenside precision | +1.20 | 61% | 55% | 2021 Evian Championship comeback |
| Danielle Kang | Sand saves, aggressive recovery | +1.10 | 59% | 57% | Featured in Golf Digest’s short game list |
| Céline Boutier | Clutch putting, bunker control | +1.45 | 64% | 56% | 2023 Evian Championship win, Solheim Cup |
Note: This table shows why Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Danielle Kang, and Céline Boutier are today’s LPGA short game leaders.
The Gear Behind the Greatness: What Golf Clubs Do the Pros Use
What Are the Best Wedges for Women’s Golf and LPGA Short Game Performance
From my experience as a pro, a great short game starts with the right wedges. Most LPGA players carry at least three types:
- A sand wedge (around 56°) for bunker shots and chips
- A lob wedge (58°–60°) for high, soft shots
- A gap wedge (50°–52°) for shorter full swings or longer chips
When it comes to brands, the top choices are clear. Many LPGA pros trust Cleveland RTX and Titleist Vokey wedges because they offer great spin, feel, and control near the green.
These wedges help with precise distance control, trajectory adjustment, and greenside spin, all key parts of an elite short game.
What Kind of Putters Do LPGA Pros Women’s Use for Consistent Putting Under Pressure
On the LPGA Tour, putting wins tournaments, and that starts with the right putter. From what I see on tour, two brands stand out:
- Scotty Cameron putters (especially the Newport models) are used by players who want feel and feedback
- Odyssey putters (like the White Hot and Stroke Lab lines) are very popular for their alignment help and stability
Top players like Inbee Park and Lydia Ko often choose blade-style or mallet-style putters based on what gives them the most confidence.
A putter that fits your stroke and feels right in your hands is key to making pressure putts.
FAQs
Which female golfer is best at chipping and putting?
Lydia Ko is often praised for her elite chipping skills and calm putting under pressure. Inbee Park is widely regarded as one of the best putters in LPGA history, while Céline Boutier and Karrie Webb are known for their soft touch and creative short game around the greens.
Who has the best short game in LPGA history?
Annika Sörenstam is widely considered to have the best overall short game in women’s golf history, thanks to her consistent wedge control, sand saves, and up-and-down success across 10 major wins.
What stats define a great short game in women’s golf?
Key LPGA stats include:
- Strokes Gained: Around the Green
- Scrambling Percentage
- Sand Save Rate
- Putting Average
These metrics help measure control, recovery, and scoring ability near the green.
Which female golfer has won the most major championships?
Patty Berg holds the all-time record with 15 major titles, setting a historic benchmark in women’s golf.
Who has the most LPGA Tour wins of all time?
Kathy Whitworth leads with 88 LPGA victories, more than any other golfer, male or female.
Has a woman ever won a PGA Tour event?
Yes. Babe Zaharias won the 1945 Los Angeles Open, making her the only woman to win a PGA Tour event. No woman has done so in the modern era.
Which current LPGA player is best in short game stats?
Lydia Ko often ranks near the top in Strokes Gained: Putting and Scrambling, while Céline Boutier is one of today’s most consistent around the green.
What are the best clubs for short game performance in women’s golf?
Top LPGA players use Cleveland RTX and Titleist Vokey wedges for spin and control, and Scotty Cameron or Odyssey putters for stability and feel.
Conclusion
So, who really has the best short game in women’s golf history? It’s a tough call, and that’s what makes it so interesting. Annika Sörenstam had incredible precision and made tough shots look simple.
Karrie Webb played with feel and creativity, especially around the bunkers. Inbee Park is one of the smoothest putters the game has ever seen. And Lydia Ko?
Her stats speak for themselves; she’s consistently one of the best in strokes gained, scrambling, and putting on tour.
If you love numbers, Ko makes a strong case. But if you value instinct, touch, and legacy, it’s hard to look past players like Annika and Webb.
Who’s your pick for the best short game in women’s golf? Drop it in the comments, I’d love to know.
MOST CONTROVERSIAL Moments In Women’s Golf History
Posts References:
Who is the best (or among the best) Female golfer of all time
The Expert Guide to Short Game Success