Who Is The Shortest Player On The LPGA Tour?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 15 December 2023

If you believe that tall golfers have an advantage over shorter players, then think again.

While it holds true that 6ft tall golfers such as Lexi Thompson and Anna Nordqvist can capitalise on their inherent advantage of longer limbs to create a larger swing arc for greater distance off the tee, shorter golfers have their own set of advantages.

Golfers with a shorter stature benefit from a lower centre of gravity and this enhances better balance and stability, which is particularly advantageous in windy conditions.

The average height of players on the LPGA Tour is 5' 6"/1.67m, but you only need to take a look at the world's top 3 female players on the Rolex World Rankings to see that when it comes to golf, for the most part, height is irrelevant.

Topping the ranking list is America’s Lilia Vu, a four-time 2023 title winner, including two Majors, who stands at 5’ 4”/1.63m. Ruoning Yin from China cuts an extremely petite figure at only 5' 2"/1.57m, and she's followed by Frenchwoman Celine Boutier who matches Vu in height.

Akaya Furue from Japan is the shortest player on the LPGA Tour

Only a few players were undefeated at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Finca Cortestin in Spain, and one of those was Megan Khang. The American, who is the first LPGA Tour player of Hmong and Laotian descent, is just 5’ 1”/1.55m.

Yet these are not the shortest players to compete on the LPGA Tour. Amelia Rorer, who debuted in 1975 holds the record for the shortest ever at 4’ 11.5’ tall. Alison Nicholas, winner of the 1997 Women’s USA Open and two-time Solheim Cup Captain is just 5’ 0”/153m, which matches the same height as the shortest player currently competing on the LPGA Tour, four-time winner Akaya Furue from Japan.

Shortest Players On The LPGA Tour

Akaya Furue - 5’ 0”/153m
Meghan Kang - 5’ 1”/1.55m
Moriya Jutanugarn - 5’ 1”/1.55m
Ruoning Yin - 5' 2"/1.57m
Cristie Kerr - 5' 3"/1.60m
In-Kyung Kim - 5' 3"/1.60m
Atthaya Thitikul - 5' 3.5"/162m
Lilia Vu - 5’ 4”/1.63m
Celine Boutier - 5’ 4”/1.63m
Jenny Shin - 5’ 4”/1.63m
Sei Young Kim - 5’ 4”/1.63m
Lizette Salas - 5’ 4”/1.63

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Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media and events, predominantly dedicated to golf, in particular the women’s game. Until 2020, for over a decade Alison edited Women & Golf magazine and website, and is now the full-time Women's Editor for Golf Monthly. Alison is a respected and leading voice in the women's game, overseeing content that communicates to active golfers from grassroots through to the professional scene, and developing collaborative relationships to widen Golf Monthly's female audience across all platforms to elevate women's golf to a new level. She is a 16-handicap golfer (should be better) and despite having had the fantastic opportunity to play some of the best golf courses around the world, Kingsbarns in Scotland is her favourite.

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Shortest Players On The LPGA Tour