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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Beth Ann Nichols

All the LPGA Players of the Year winners, from Kathy Whitworth to Nelly Korda

While the PGA Tour uses a vote, the LPGA has always favored a points system for its Rolex Player of the Year award. Introduced in 1966, Kathy Whitworth dominated the trophy in its infancy, winning seven times in the first eight years. From 1995 to 2005, Annika Sorenstam won it eight times. In 2024, Nelly Korda won the award for the first time.

Players must finish in the top 10 of official LPGA events to earn points, which are doubled at major championships.

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
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