Believe it or not, we are just over halfway through the LPGA season. While just one of the five major championships are remaining, there’s still a lot of golf to be played. That being said, let’s take some time to look back on the season so far, and determine who would be my personal LPGA award winners. (Note: These awards are point based, here I am taking the approach as if they were a ballot and I had a vote.)
LPGA Player of the Year: Nelly Korda
Think back on watching The Open Championship this weekend. There was one standout figure in commercials, and that was Nelly Korda. Most of this was because of her transcendent 2024 season. While her game has cooled off significantly, Korda won six events in seven starts, coinciding perfectly with the rise in American women’s sports. Korda instantly became the face of the LPGA Tour, and rightfully so. She is essentially guaranteed to have the most wins in 2024 and she won her second major title. Pretty easy choice here.
Rookie of the Year: Gabi Ruffels
Yes, Mao Saigo leads in points, but Gabi Ruffels has so many impressive finishes in her first year, I cannot resist giving her this title. Ruffels has done everything but win in her opening season on tour. She has three third place finishes already on her career, with only three missed cuts in 2024. Ruffels has made all four cuts in majors in her rookie season, and has proven why she was such an anticipated addition to the tour. This is a competitive category, but Ruffels has been one of the best players in the world so early.
Breakout Player of the Year: Ayaka Furue
Furue was of course a well-established player coming into 2024, but this year she has ascended to superstar status. Furue has been so consistently good in 2024, winning her first major title at the Evian Championship, and adding a startling eight more top-10 finishes. Furue was simply a rising star in 2023, now she is without any shadow of a doubt one of the best players on the LPGA Tour.
Comeback Player of the Year: Nelly Korda
This was a tough one to pick. Both Yuka Saso and Patty Tavatanakit have been strong this year coming off years of bad results. But the true definition of comeback is Korda. After her incredibly, star-making 2021, Korda struggled with injuries and play below her standards in 2022 and 2023. Korda won just one event in 2022 and none in 2023. Flashforward to 2024 and she has six victories including a major. When you think of comeback stories, it is a superstar returning to their true form. Korda has done just that and even more.
