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Ryann O’Toole secured a $1 million bonus from the LPGA and Aon after winning the season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge. The significant payout followed a remarkable turnaround in her par-5 performance and a stellar season that ended prematurely as she prepared to welcome her first child.
The Road to the $1 Million Bonus
O’Toole locked in her card for the 2026 season after finishing tied for third and shooting a 65 in the final round of the LPGA Q-Series last December, completing 15 seasons on tour. By late August, after finishing her tournament at the FM Championship at TPC Boston, she held the lead in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge and had surpassed the 40-round minimum to qualify for the prize. She stepped away from the tour early to prepare for the birth of her first child with her partner, Gina, leaving her scores on 12 holes across the tour to hold up through November.
According to The Associated Press, O’Toole’s highest on-course earnings year previously came in 2024 when she earned slightly over $629,000, making this single bonus approximately $371,000 more than her best previous yearly total. Her success stemmed largely from a dramatic improvement on par-5 holes, jumping from 125th in par-5 scoring the previous season up to 11th.
How the Aon Challenge Works
The competition tracks a player’s best two scores on a single designated hole at 28 participating tournaments, requiring a minimum of 40 tournament rounds to qualify. O’Toole’s final challenge hole was No. 12 at TPC Boston, a 512-yard par-5 dogleg left featuring notable elevation changes. At 39 years old, O’Toole averaged a career-best 270.6 yards off the tee, allowing her to shorten her second shots on challenging holes.
Across the counting holes, O’Toole recorded four eagles and finished 22 under par, with all but one of those 22 strokes coming on par 5s. She hit 21 of 24 greens in regulation on those counting trips and recorded 15 one-putts without a single three-putt.
Securing the Lead Until the End
Because O’Toole had already cleared the 40-round minimum before stepping away from competition, her scores remained locked in while the rest of the field had months to try and beat her average. The LPGA season concludes with remaining tournaments this month, while O’Toole and Gina await the arrival of their baby in January.
