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Bradenton's Nelly Korda earns first LPGA Player of the Year title with 3 events remaining

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Nelly Korda of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club on March 24, 2024 in Palos Verdes Estates, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Nelly Korda of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club on March 24, 2024 in Palos Verdes Estates, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Nelly Korda’s season isn’t over yet, but the LPGA announced Monday the World No. 1 has already clinched the Rolex Player of the Year award. Korda’s historic season, which included six victories in her first eight starts to 2024, makes her the 27th different player to win the award since its inception in 1966.

The Player of the Year award comes with an LPGA Hall of Fame point, bringing 26-year-old Korda to 18 of the 27 needed to qualify.

“Winning the Rolex Player of the Year means so much to me,” Korda said in a release. “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.”

Previously: Bradenton's Nelly Korda sidelined from LPGA's Asia swing with minor neck injury

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

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Nelly Korda of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 21, 2024 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Nelly Korda of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 21, 2024 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Players accrue points in the POY race for top-10 finishes 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 for a chance to tie Korda.

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

Previously: Nelly Korda looking to bring second golf Olympic gold medal to Bradenton from 2024 Paris Games

Korda hasn’t played since the Kroger Queen City Championship in September, withdrawing from the tour’s fall Asian swing with a minor neck injury. She was cleared by her doctor to begin practicing last week, posting the update on her social media accounts.

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

Here’s the complete list of Rolex Player of the Year winners:

Year

Player

1966

Kathy Whitworth

1967

Kathy Whitworth

1968

Kathy Whitworth

1969

Kathy Whitworth

1970

Sandra Haynie

1971

Kathy Whitworth

1972

Kathy Whitworth

1973

Kathy Whitworth

1974

JoAnne Carner

1975

Sandra Palmer

1976

Judy Rankin

1977

Judy Rankin

1978

Nancy Lopez

1979

Nancy Lopez

1980

Beth Daniel

1981

JoAnne Carner

1982

JoAnne Carner

1983

Patty Sheehan

1984

Betsy King

1985

Nancy Lopez

1986

Pat Bradley

1987

Ayako Okamoto

1988

Nancy Lopez

1989

Betsy King

1990

Beth Daniel

1991

Pat Bradley

1992

Dottie Mochrie

1993

Betsy King

1994

Beth Daniel

1995

Annika Sorenstam

1996

Laura Davies

1997

Annika Sorenstam

1998

Annika Sorenstam

1999

Karrie Webb

2000

Karrie Webb

2001

Annika Sorenstam

2002

Annika Sorenstam

2003

Annika Sorenstam

2004

Annika Sorenstam

2005

Annika Sorenstam

2006

Lorena Ochoa

2007

Lorena Ochoa

2008

Lorena Ochoa

2009

Lorena Ochoa

2010

Yani Tseng

2011

Yani Tseng

2012

Stacy Lewis

2013

Inbee Park

2014

Stacy Lewis

2015

Lydia Ko

2016

Ariya Jutanugarn

2017

Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu

2018

Ariya Jutanugarn

2019

Jin Young Ko

2020

Sei Young Kim

2021

Jin Young Ko

2022

Lydia Ko

2023

Lilia Vu

2024

Nelly Korda

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