Bradenton’s Nelly Korda wins first LPGA Player of the Year title with 3 events remaining

Nelly Korda’s season is not yet over, but the LPGA announced Monday that the world number 1 had already won the title. Rolex Player of the Year Award. Korda’s historic season, which included six wins in her first eight starts through 2024, makes her the 27th different player to win the award since its inception in 1966.

The Player of the Year award comes with a point in the LPGA Hall of Fame, putting Korda, 26, 18 of the 27 needed to qualify.

“Winning Rolex Player of the Year means a lot to me,” Korda said in a statement. “This season has had its ups and challenges, and I am truly grateful to the people around me who helped me get here. It was a team effort and I am proud to share this moment with them.

Previously: Bradenton’s Nelly Korda ruled out of LPGA Asian swing due to minor neck injury

Korda follows in the footsteps of No. 2 Lilia Vu, who won the award last year. This is the first time the Americans have won back-to-back Player of the Year titles since Betsy King (1993) and Beth Daniel (1994).

Players accumulate points in the POY race for the top 10 only. Korda has nine top-10s in 14 starts this season. Ayaka Furue had to win last week’s Toto Japan Classic and then sweep all remaining events to have a chance of tying Korda.

Korda, winner of the 2024 Chevron Championship, also picked up the Rolex Annika Major Award after her second-place finish behind Lydia Ko at the AIG Women’s British Open. She will accept both honors on November 20 during the Rolex LPGA Awards ceremony at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples.

Previously: Nelly Korda looks to bring Bradenton a second Olympic golf gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games

Korda has not played since the Kroger Queen City Championship in September, withdrawing from the fall Asian swing of the tour due to a minor neck injury. She was cleared by her doctor to start practicing last week, posting the update on her social media accounts.

She is next scheduled to compete at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair Nov. 14-17, where she is a two-time winner. Korda will then conclude her eighth official LPGA season at the CME before competing in two more unofficial events – the Grant Thornton Invitational and the PNC Championship – in December.

Here is the full list of Rolex Player of the Year winners:

This article was originally published on Golfweek: Nelly Korda wins 2024 LPGA Player of the Year award with 3 events remaining