Nelly Korda secured the points-based LPGA player of the year award on Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Florida, marking her second such honor in three years and bringing her within one victory of the LPGA Hall of Fame.
A Dominant Season with Multiple Wins
Korda captured four titles this year, highlighted by two major championships at The Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera, which served as her signature victory during a commanding campaign.
She secured the honor after double major winner Haeran Ryu of South Korea withdrew last week in Malaysia due to an injury, while Miyu Yamashita of Japan and Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand opted not to enter The Annika tournament held next week in Florida. Those absences left her rivals mathematically unable to overtake her in the standings.
Korda’s performance was so dominant that she secured the top award with three tournaments left on the calendar, matching her feat when she won the award in 2024. The 28-year-old American skipped the entire four-week Asia swing and intends to compete in the final two weeks in Florida.
Chasing the LPGA Hall of Fame
The remaining fixtures—The Annika and the CME Group Tour Championship—carry heightened significance. The LPGA player of the year accolade awards Korda 26 points, leaving her one point shy of qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, a milestone she can reach by winning either of the upcoming two events.
Korda would not hold the record for the youngest player to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, as Inbee Park met the criteria at age 27. Park was also a finalist this year for the World Golf Hall of Fame, a distinct institution separate from the LPGA’s hall featuring players and contributors worldwide chosen by administrators, Hall of Fame members, and media.
Korda launched her campaign with a remarkable start by winning the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida, an event shortened to 54 holes due to bitter cold and wind. That victory initiated a stretch of six consecutive tournaments where she either won or finished as the runner-up.
Although that streak concluded with a tie for eighth place, Korda bounced back to claim the U.S. Women’s Open, a major she targeted because it stands as the premier tournament in women’s golf and was hosted at the historic Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles for the first time.
