Azahara Munoz will be the top LPGA rookie
Spanish golfer Azahara Munoz will claim the LPGA's Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. The 22-year-old from Malaga, Spain, was win-less on the season but managed enough impressive
finishes to earn the annual award.
While there are two tournaments left on the LPGA schedule, Munoz currently enjoys an insurmountable lead of 313 points. Even if the next best rookie, the 23-year-old American Amanda Blumenherst,
were to win the final two events, she would still finish 13 points behind Munoz.
Munoz had two top-10 finishes and two top-25 finishes in her rookie season. The winner of the Madrid Ladies Masters in 2009, Munoz played well in this year’s majors, finishing T19 at the
U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open as well as T11 at the LPGA Championship. She didn’t play in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
While the Rookie of the Year is all sewn up for Munoz, the Player of the Year award is still up for grabs. Jiyai Shin currently leads the Rolex Player of the Year award race, but Yani
Tseng, Cristie Kerr, AI Miyazato, Suzann Peterson, and Na Yeon Choi, all have a shot at the award.
Munoz enjoyed early success in her golfing career, winning the 2002 Spanish Amateur title at the age of 14. She also won the 2004 Girls British Open Championship and the 2009 Ladies British
Amateur event. At the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Eugene, Oregon, Munoz finished runner-up to Blumenherst.
Entering the Madrid Ladies Masters on a sponsor's exemption, Munoz won the European Tour event with an eagle on the first play-off hole. In December 2009, she finished in fifth-place at
the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn her playing privileges for 2010.
Munoz, the Arizona State alum, was remarkably consistent throughout her rookie season, missing the cut only twice in 19 events.
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