DuenPhen

I can answer at least one of the questions. Jeeno has a win this year at the Mizuho.

Actually, no? Not in any official capacity at least. If it's known that a team does it then everyone would want to, so the fact that no one has done that in 4 editions mean there is likely a specific rule against it.

I know you have been real down on Nelly lately, but her play is good enough to win at least one match imo.

Without coaches I find it very interesting to see how players organise themselves. Do they have strategy? Do they have a leader? Last time the Thai team was clearly led by Moriya - except Mo doesn't make it this time, so who will step up in her place?

The Korean team will have the home crowd behind them, which as you recalled 7 years ago in Incheon stretched from tee to green. So Yeon Ryu led under tremendous pressure to reward prestigious Korean golf with their first trophy. This team doesn't have the stature of that team, but Haeran can have her days (though not lately) and Hyo Joo is an ace up their sleeve. Jin Young though still doesn't like match-play and Hye-Jin the Penguin doesn't swim that well in pressure.

Fun fact: If Lottie Woad made her charge a few months earlier, England would have likely qualified for the Crown! Alas that was not how history panned out, and with one week to go to players' confirmation, here is the state of play 🇺🇸: Nelly Korda (1), Angel Yin (7), Lauren Coughlin (14), Lilia Vu (16) -- Yealimi Noh (23), Andrea Lee (28) Lilia's free-fall has seen her dropped to 4th in the order. However, Yealimi/Andrea will need a high finish at Porthcawl to overtake. LC herself also hasn't been doing too hot form-wise, but her place is likely secured. 🇰🇷: Haeran Ryu (7), Hyo Joo Kim (8), Jin Young Ko (13), Hye-Jin Choi (21) -- Amy Yang (31), Yewon Lee (34) The Korean team looks settled as Hye-Jin's recent high finishes see her separated from Amy. 🇯🇵: Mao Saigo (10), Rio Takeda (12), Miyū Yamashita (15), Ayaka Furue (19) -- Akie Iwai (27), Chisato Iwai (29) Ayaka Furue's pedestrian year has left her vulnerable to a charge from an Iwai twin. Even then, there likely can be only one of them. Whichever the combination, this team is a formidable murderers' row. 🇦🇺: Minjee Lee (5), Hannah Green (11), Grace Kim (26), Steph Kyriacou (42) -- Gabriela Ruffels (63) Grace Kim's miracle at the Evian has seen them leapt into the 4th seed. The 2023 edition was already a strong team with serious camaraderie and this one looks even stronger with LAB Minjee and the next generation. The best of Australia is truly yet to come. 🇹🇭: Jeeno Thitikul (2), Ariya Jutanugarn (18), Chanettee Wannasaen (32), Patty Tavatanakit (38) -- Pajaree Anannarukarn (80) As Jeeno challenges Nelly for the No. 1, do you know that Ariya is back in the top 20? She has quietly been having a very good year since that disaster at Chevron and all she needs is a win. This is one of the most settled teams, but where is Patty lately? 🇸🇪: Maja Stark (9), Madelene Sagstrom (30), Ingrid Lindblad (36), Linn Grant (43) -- Anna Nordqvist (155) This is the other most settled team. I don't believe Anna Nordqvist will make a serious challenge. The Stark-Grant friendship will lead this team and the other two bring serious firepower. Maja needs to not break her putter, though. 🇨🇳: Ruoning Yin (4), Xiyu Lin (72), Weiwei Zhang (95), Yan Liu (113) -- Ruixin Liu (124), Miranda Wang (176), Yahui Zhang (182), Mary Liu (188) Given Janet's continuing pregnancy and relatively low rankings, the Chinese team can fluctuate with a good finish at Porthcawl. Yahui Zhang is not in the field. Miranda Wang and Mary Liu, on the other hand, are. 🌐: Lydia Ko 🇳🇿 (3), Celine Boutier 🇫🇷 (17), Brooke Henderson 🇨🇦 (46), Shannon Tan 🇸🇬 (100) -- Casandra Alexander 🇿🇦 (78), Charley Hull (20) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, Lottie Woad 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24), Gaby Lopez 🇲🇽 (59), Wei-Ling Hsu 🇹🇼 (110) The new Saffa number one Alexander is not gonna challenge Dame Lydia, but every other spot is quite frankly up for grabs with everyone involved playing at Porthcawl! Brooke vs Gaby and Shannon vs Wei-Ling are individual battles to watch out for, but all eyes are on Celine Boutier who is under threat not only from Charley Hull but also Lottie Woad, whose launch has flown so high she may reach the sky at the very first time of asking.

I would say the missed birdie on 8th is an unforced error, and the inability to score the Par 5s. Still, it took Acts of God to beat her.

For those well-versed in Jeeno lore, this is a Marianne Skarpnord. I am numb, but not totally devastated like May at Chevron. Still, we should have had two 😭.