The LPGA Tour headed south of the border this week for the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. The event attracted several top stars including Linn Grant, Charley Hull and Gabriela Ruffels, but it is a rookie who stole the headlines.
Japanese sensation Chisato Iwai crushed the field for what turned out to be a six-shot victory. She started the final round at 6-under after 54 holes, but by the 13th hole on Sunday she had stormed into the lead, no less than eight shots clear of her main rivals.
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Iwai finished the front nine with five birdies and no bogeys, and added two more birdies on the 11th and 13th holes. It was not until the 14th that she made her first bogey of the day, but her lead was still seven strokes over American Jenny Bae.
Through the first three rounds, Iwai remained in the thick part of the leaderboard after scores of 68, 74 and 68. Her best round of the LPGA Tour season so far is a 65 at the Honda LPGA Thailand (second round).
Immediately after draining her putt on 18, she was doused with champagne.
With the win, Iwai became the third rookie to win this season, joining compatriot Rio Takeda, who won the Blue Bay LPGA in March, and former World No. 1 amateur Ingrid Lindblad, who won the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.
By the way, Chisato’s twin sister, Akie Iwai, has come close to winning twice this season, in Thailand (she finished one stroke behind Angel Yin) and in Los Angeles (she finished just one stroke behind Lindblad). Akie is also in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Chisato has played in seven LPGA Tour events, not counting the Mexico Riviera Maya Open. She has made five cuts and her best finish was a tie for 11th at the JM Eagle LA Championship.
It was only a matter of time, however, before the 22-year-old would showcase her quality at the highest level. Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, she won seven tournaments on the Japanese professional circuit (between 2022 and 2024) and added another title this season.
In addition, Chisato Iwai earned her LPGA Tour card by finishing second at the Q-School in December 2024.
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