Nelly Korda clinches second LPGA player-of-the-year award

Nelly Korda has secured the LPGA Tour's points-based player-of-the-year award for the second time, with three tournaments still remaining in the season. BBC Sport reported that the American world number one has clinched the honour after a campaign featuring four victories, including wins in the year's first two major championships.

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The 28-year-old won The Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open at Riviera as part of that four-title return. Those successes have taken her career major tally to four, while she has 19 LPGA Tour victories overall. Her latest player-of-the-year award follows the one she won in 2024.

Korda established her advantage early in 2026. Across her opening six LPGA Tour tournaments, she finished either first or second each time, building a substantial lead in the award standings. That sequence combined victories with runner-up finishes, giving her a strong points position from the beginning of the season rather than relying solely on her two major wins.

The remaining challengers' schedules and availability helped settle the race before the final three events. South Korea's Haeran Ryu, who also won two majors this year, withdrew from last week's tournament in Malaysia because of injury, according to the BBC. Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul have not entered next week's The Annika in Florida, leaving Korda with the award secured.

The American also remains one victory away from qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame. That milestone is still outstanding, even though the player-of-the-year race has now been decided. Asked in June about the possibility of qualifying, Korda said it would rank among the greatest achievements of her career, underlining the significance she places on reaching it.

Qualification would not, however, make Korda the youngest player to reach the Hall of Fame. New Zealand's Lydia Ko and South Korea's Inbee Park both qualified at 27, a year younger than Korda is now. For the current world number one, the newly secured award adds a second season-long honour to a record already containing four major titles.