World number one Nelly Korda has claimed the Rolex Player of the Year title after her historic season. Her success, succeeding Lilia Vu’s from last year, marks the first time since 1993-1994 that American winners have taken the title consecutively.
The award itself is points-based. Given Korda’s considerable numbers, it’s now confirmed impossible for anyone to surpass the 26-year-old. With three events still to come in the 2024 LPGA Tour season, this is certainly a win that won’t easily be forgotten.
Korda started out the season T16 with USA’s Andrea Lee at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. In the five events that followed, Korda confirmed her place in the history books as one of (now) only three LPGA players to win five consecutive tour titles. She joins 1978’s winner Nancy Lopez and 2005’s Annika Sörenstam on this brief list. Her remarkable back-to-back wins include the LPGA Drive On Championship, the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, the Ford Championship pres. by KCC, the T-Mobile Match Play pres. by MGM Rewards, and crucially, the second major title of her career at the Chevron Championship.
Her winning streak ended when she tied for 7th at the Cognizant Founders Cup. She came out on top again in her next event, winning the Mizuho Americas Open back in May. In an unexpected lapse in form, Korda missed three cuts at the U.S. Women’s Open, the Meijer LPGA Classic, and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She failed to keep in contention for the Amundi Evian Championship, finishing T26. But since then she has regained form, finished tied-2nd in August’s AIG Women’s Open. She tied for 5th at the Kroger Queen City Championship, alongside South Korea’s Hyo Joon Jang. She then took part on this year’s Solheim Cup in which she played a crucial role in helping Team USA regain the title for the first time since 2017.
On November 20, Korda is set to accept the Rolex Annika Major Award and the Rolex LPGA Awards.
“Winning the Rolex Player of the Year means so much to me,” Korda said. “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.
“It’s been a team effort, and I’m proud to share this moment with them.”
Korda has recently suffered from a minor neck injury she sustained during practice. She is determined nonetheless to play at the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, from November 14-17, as well as the pro-am, and then on to the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.