American world number one Nelly Korda has clinched the LPGA’s points-based player of the year award with three events left in the 2024 season, the top women’s professional golf circuit said on Monday.
She bagged the award when it became mathematically impossible for anyone to catch her in the points-based competition.
The 26-year-old Korda has claimed six victories in 2024 and had three additional top-10 finishes. At one point during the year Korda won five consecutive tournaments, a run she capped by securing her second major title.
“This season has had its highs and challenges, and I’m just really grateful for the people around me who have helped me get here,” Korda said in an LPGA news release. “It’s been a team effort, and I’m proud to share this moment with them.”
Korda, who missed the fall Asian swing due to a minor neck injury, also represented the United States in the women’s golf competition at the Paris Olympics and was part of the winning team at the Solheim Cup.
Prior to last week’s Japan Classic, only Ayaka Furue had the potential to catch Korda but would have had to win the season’s final four events to tie for the award. Japan’s Furue finished in a share of 10th last week.
This marks the second straight year an American player has won the biggest LPGA award. Lilia Vu won the award in 2023 on the strength of two majors. The last time Americans won LPGA player of the year in successive years was Betsy King in 1993 and Beth Daniel in 1994.
Meanwhile, Rio Takeda of Japan won the Toto Japan Classic on Sunday in a six-hole playoff against Marina Alex to capture her first LPGA Tour title.
Takeda closed with a 5-under 67 while Alex had a 66 to match her 15-under 201. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes because Saturday’s third round was washed out by rain.
Both made birdie on the first playoff, and both made pars on the next four holes until Takeda birdied the par-5 18th and the American could only manage a par.
Haeran Ryu of South Korea had a 66 to finish one shot out of the playoff. Hana Wakimoto of Japan, the leader after the first two rounds, slipped to a 73 and finished three strokes behind the leaders. She was also seeking her first LPGA Tour win.
Agencies