After an incredible spring in which she won five consecutive tournaments and six overall, the LPGA has awarded World No. 1 Nelly Korda the Rolex Player of the Year award for 2024. This is the first time Korda has received this honor.
“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 truly 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’s season started with a tie for 16th at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in her native Florida. She then won her next five tournaments, including The Chevron Championship, the first major of the season. A tie for seventh at the Cognizant Founders Cup in early May ended her winning streak at five. However, she returned to winning form the following week at Liberty National, where she edged out Australian Hannah Green by a stroke for her sixth victory.
Since then, Korda has not won another tournament and has faced some challenges. At the U.S. Women’s Open at the end of May, she missed the cut, notably after an eye-opening score of 10 on the par-3 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club. Another missed cut occurred at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee in June, but she made the cut at the Amundi Evian Championship in July.
With her game back in shape in August, Korda held the lead on the back nine at St. Andrews during the AIG Women’s Open. However, a costly double-bogey on the par-5 14th hole sealed her fate, and she finished in a tie for second with Lilia Vu—who took home Player of the Year honors last year. Both finished two strokes behind champion Lydia Ko.
Korda’s Player of the Year honor marks the first time that Americans have won this award in consecutive years since Betsy King and Beth Daniel did so in 1993 and 1994. Korda is the 27th different recipient of this award, which has been given since 1966.