Photo: Andrew Redington
UCLA’s Lilia Vu Reaches World No. 1 after Second Major Championship
August 14, 2023 | Women's Golf
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – UCLA women's golf alumna Lilia Vu (2015-2018) has reached No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings as of Monday, Aug. 14. This recognition comes on the heels of Vu's second major championship victory at the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath Golf Club on Sunday.
Vu has earned three LPGA Tour victories in 2023 which is tied for the most this season. She is the third player since the inception of the LPGA in 1950 to enter a year with no career LPGA wins, then go on to win multiple majors that season (Se Ri Pak, 1998 and Meg Mallon, 1991).
"Being the best in the world, that's just crazy to me," said Vu following her win in Surrey, England at Walton Heath. "Just thinking about the struggle I had this year and just to come out with that has been -- it's just incredible."
The 25-year-old Vu also clinched the 2023 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award (RAMA), which recognizes the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships during the LPGA Tour season. She is the second American to win the award since its inception in 2014, joining Michelle Wie West, who won the inaugural award.
Vu became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February. Two months later, she won her first major at The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas in April. Vu is the first American since Juli Inkster in 1999 to win two major championships in a single season.
Vu, who moved from No. 6 to No. 1, becomes the 17th different player to reach No. 1 as well as the fourth American since the inception of the Rolex Rankings in 2006.
A 2019 LPGA Tour rookie, Vu regained full Membership for the 2022 season through the Epson Tour's Race for the Card in 2021 after winning three times and earning Player of the Year honors.
At UCLA, Vu was the Pac-12 Conference Golfer of the Year, WGCA Player of the Year and a Honda Sport Award Finalist in 2018. Vu, a three-time WGCA First-Team All-American, ranks first in UCLA history with eight victories and second with a 71.09 scoring average.
Vu has earned three LPGA Tour victories in 2023 which is tied for the most this season. She is the third player since the inception of the LPGA in 1950 to enter a year with no career LPGA wins, then go on to win multiple majors that season (Se Ri Pak, 1998 and Meg Mallon, 1991).
"Being the best in the world, that's just crazy to me," said Vu following her win in Surrey, England at Walton Heath. "Just thinking about the struggle I had this year and just to come out with that has been -- it's just incredible."
The 25-year-old Vu also clinched the 2023 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award (RAMA), which recognizes the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships during the LPGA Tour season. She is the second American to win the award since its inception in 2014, joining Michelle Wie West, who won the inaugural award.
Vu became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February. Two months later, she won her first major at The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas in April. Vu is the first American since Juli Inkster in 1999 to win two major championships in a single season.
Vu, who moved from No. 6 to No. 1, becomes the 17th different player to reach No. 1 as well as the fourth American since the inception of the Rolex Rankings in 2006.
A 2019 LPGA Tour rookie, Vu regained full Membership for the 2022 season through the Epson Tour's Race for the Card in 2021 after winning three times and earning Player of the Year honors.
At UCLA, Vu was the Pac-12 Conference Golfer of the Year, WGCA Player of the Year and a Honda Sport Award Finalist in 2018. Vu, a three-time WGCA First-Team All-American, ranks first in UCLA history with eight victories and second with a 71.09 scoring average.
- 3x LPGA Tour Winner ?
— LPGA (@LPGA) August 14, 2023
- 2x 2023 Major Champion ?
- Annika Major Award ?
- No. 1 in the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings ?
No goal is too large for @TheLiliaVu to reach ? pic.twitter.com/h3AHZFxk4d
UCLA Women's Golf NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, May 28
Post Round Press Conference – Francesca Fiorellini (April 3, 2024)
Wednesday, April 03
Media Availability – Zoe Antoinette Campos (April 2, 2024)
Tuesday, April 02
Zoe Antoinette Campos Previews Major Appearance at the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach
Tuesday, June 27