Nelly Korda has won the 2024 Rolex Player of the Year award on the LPGA.
It might be surprising, but it's the first time the women's world No. 1 has ever won the prestigious title, which awarded to the LPGA Tour player who has amassed the most points from their performance throughout the season.
"Winning the Rolex Player of the Year means so much to me," said Korda on receiving the award at the conclusion of the TOTO Japan Classic. "This season has had its highs and also its
challenges. I'm just really grateful for the people around me who have helped me get here. It's
been a team effort, and I'm proud to share this moment with them."
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Korda becomes the 27th player to win the award since it was first introduced in 1996. Her victory, following on from fellow American Lilia Vu in 2023, has made history as the first time two Americans have won the award back-to-back in three decades. The feat was last achieved by Betsy King (1993) and Beth Daniel (1994).
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Korda made a historic start to her 2024 season, claiming five tournament titles in a row: the LPGA Drive On Championship, the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, the Ford Championship, the T-Mobile Match Play and the Chevron Championship, the second major title of her career.
To add to that, the 26-year-old recorded a further three top-10 finishes before earning her sixth victory of the year at the Mizuho Americas Open. In her most recent starts, she secured two more top-five finishes at the AIG Women's Open and the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
Korda also represented the United States at the women's golf competition in the 2024 Paris Olympics and made her fourth appearance on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team in September, helping the team to a three-point victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Korda's incredible start to 2024 put her points amassed on the Player of the Year rankings to astronomical levels. Despite tailing off towards the end of 2024, with four events remaining in the LPGA Tour season, only Ayaka Furue had the potential to catch Korda entering the TOTO Japan Classic. But to do so, Furue had to win each of the last four LPGA events. The odds were always heavily stacked against her doing that.
The Rolex Player of the Year award was first introduced to the LPGA in 1966. The recipient earns a point toward the LPGA Hall of Fame.
LPGA Tour players are awarded points at each official LPGA tournament based on top-10 finishes with the top points earner for the season taking home the honor each year.
Points are doubled at each of the LPGA Tour's five major championships - The Chevron Championship, the Women's PGA Championship, the U.S. Women's Open, the Evian Championship and the AIG Women's Open.