It’s been nearly 10 years since the LPGA has had a single, dominant star. That’s not to say the tour has lacked the talent to entertain, but since Lorena Ochoa retired in 2010, the question has lingered: Who will be the next to win with Lorena’s consistency and apparent ease, or take command of the winner’s circle with the unapologetic confidence of Annika Sorenstam before her? In 2018, we got a clearer view than ever of who that may be. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn recorded top-10 finishes 17 times in 2018—including three wins. At the end of the season, Jutanugarn had won every award available to her: Player of the Year, money leader, the new Leaders Top 10 competition, Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, and she walked away from the tour championship with the $1 million CME season-ending bonus. It’s a resume that’s impressive without explanation, but even more impressive with it. One of those three wins was the U.S. Women’s Open. Jutanugarn blew a seven-shot lead on the back nine to land in a playoff with Hyo-Joo Kim. It was a painful reminder of events early in Jutanugarn’s LPGA career when she struggled to close out tournaments. But diligent work on her mental game paid off at Shoal Creek, as she resurrected her championship to win after four playoff holes. The 23-year-old’s talent has never been in question. After that win, any concerns with her ability to finish off a tournament were silenced, too. The only thing that may be lacking is that feeling that she’s going win every tournament that she shows up at. It’s something that’s a bit out of her control: She’s playing on a tour where pretty much anyone could win every event. With 26 different winners in 2018, the LPGA has never been deeper, making it harder than ever for an individual to become a dominant force. But Ariya’s 2018 performance is certainly a move in that direction. —Keely Levins