LPGA Long Ball: The Longest Hitters on Tour and Their Driving Averages

In the last decade, the LPGA Tour driving distance average has increased by just as many yards. To put it in other words, in 10 years, the women on the LPGA Tour have managed to hit it about 10 yards further.

It'd be easy to think that with each year, the yardage just increases by one, but when you look at the data, there was a fairly significant jump from 2015 to 2016.

(Editor's note: The LPGA determines driving distance by the average number of yards per measured drive. These drives are measured on two holes per round.)

Back then it was French player Joanna Klatten leading the way measuring out around 274 yards, with other notable names like American players Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson following closely behind at 270 and 268 yards, respectively.

But then when you look ahead just a year to 2016, Klatten had increased her driving distance to 281.37 yards. Now you may be saying "okay wow, seven yards, who cares?" but seven yards is nothing to sneeze at. Now there are many variables to consider when factoring in why or how she gained distance.

It could've been an equipment adjustment—finding a driver, or ball, or both to help limit backspin and maximize her carry. But I phoned in an expert, my PGA Class A teaching professional brother, who also enlightened me that Klatten and the rest of the longest players back then were also working on swinging it faster. Even though increasing your club head speed by 1-2 mph only gains you 3-5 yards of carry—speed is speed.

But let's look further down the list. The 10th longest player on the LPGA in 2015 was Sei Young Kim, who averaged around 263 yards. Flash forward to present day, Kim has lost about three yards of distance but is still averaging in the low 260s, but she now ranks 79th in driving distance on Tour.

Someone with a 263 average isn't seeing inside the top 50 these days—which speaks more volume than whoever at the top is clocking in, in my opinion. Looking at the full sample size really emphasizes that (I hope my college stats professor is proud).

The bottom line is players are getting better and longer. We're coming off of the most competitive season in LPGA history with a record 29 different winners—and I think we continue to expect the trend of players hitting the ball further steadily rise. I don't believe that it will be drastic, but this list of the longest hitters of 2025 will be the ones to lead the charge.

10. Nanna Koerstz Madsen

Driving average: 273.69

The 31-year-old from Denmark first joined the LPGA Tour in 2018 and has one career title, at the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand. Her best finish of 2025 came at the Meijer LPGA Classic, were she ended T-4.

9. Fatima Fernandez Cano

Driving average: 274.38

The Spaniard primarily competes on the LET and Epson Tours but she made 11 starts on the LPGA in 2025. She had the fewest drives measured of this bunch and still managed to land herself inside the top-10.

8. Nelly Korda

Driving average: 274.58

The world No. 2 has one of, if not the best move in professional golf. Her swing is like poetry in motion, and it's no wonder that she's one of the longest hitters on the LPGA. She improved her distance from 2024, jumping from a 269.79 average to the mid 270s.

7. Madison Young

Driving average: 275.12

Young is a 2025 LPGA rookie, and what a stat to have under her belt so early into her career.

6. Emily Kristine Pedersen

Driving average: 276.42

Pedersen is amongst one of the most impressive on this list to me because she's the one to have made such a large jump in her driving distance. She has increased her average by nearly 10 yards, jumping from the 22nd longest player in 2024 to being sixth on Tour this year.

5. Bailey Tardy

Driving average: 278.05

This hasn't been the season the 29-year-old was hoping for after securing her first win in 2024, but her game is in a great spot as she hones in her skills off the tee.

4. Bianca Pagdanganan

Driving average: 280.51

Don't let her 5'4" stature fool you, Bianca Pagdanganan absolutely cooks it off the tee. Since she joined the LPGA in 2020, she has floated around the top-5 in driving distance, staying within the 275-280 yard window.

3. Auston Kim

Driving average: 282.23

She was one of my dark horses to begin this year and this only confirms my thoughts about the talented Vanderbilt alum. Auston Kim is one of my favorite golfers, period. Her sophomore season on the LPGA was a successful one, earning five top-10s including her best finish at a major—the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Related: Auston Kim Player's Journal

2. Polly Mack

Driving average: 283.46

Polly Mack has been one of the longest hitters since she joined the LPGA in 2023, staying consistent in the 280 window, but there's a rookie that swooped in and stole her throne.

1. Julia Lopez Ramirez

Driving average: 285.42

Taking home the award for longest player on the LPGA Tour is 2025 rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez. The former Mississippi State Bulldog is a two-time SEC champion and took an early exit from her collegiate career when she had a berth into last year's LPGA Q School, where she finished T-10, securing her card for 2025.

She ends her maiden season with 15 made cuts in 24 starts and a top-10 finish at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, where she tied for third. She also got to experience playing in a final pairing on Sunday at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills.

RELATED: Year in Review: Top 5 Moments From The 2025 LPGA Majors