According to the latest LPGA news reports, the 2024 Rolex LPGA Awards took place on November 20 in Naples celebrating the achievements of top female golfers. Nelly Korda was the star of the evening, receiving both the Rolex Player of the Year and the Rolex Annika Major Award for her performance throughout the season.
South Korean golfer Narin An shot a 8-under 64 to take the lead in the CME Group Tour Championship held in Naples. An’s performance included four consecutive birdies and a total of seven birdies without any bogeys.
She leads by one stroke over Angel Yin, who also had a strong showing with a back-nine score of 30 including an eagle on the par-5 17th hole. This event has a record $4 million prize for the winner.
Top-ranked player Nelly Korda faced challenges during her opening round. Korda finished with an even-par 72, placing her eight shots behind An.
The CME Group Tour Championship features a prize and also a moment for players aiming to break the LPGA’s single-season earnings record. Currently held by Lorena Ochoa with $4,364,994 from 2007.
A group of players including Allisen Corpuz and Marina Alex finished the day at 6-under 66, while Lydia Ko and several others were close behind at 67.
According to the latest LPGA news reports, the LPGA Tour’s schedule for 2025 has been announced featuring record-breaking prize money totaling $131 million.
Sophia Popov, the 2020 AIG Women’s Open champion is making her debut in a new role at the CME Group Tour Championship. After a break from competitive golf due to maternity leave, Popov returned to the LPGA Tour in March 2024 following the birth of her daughter, Maya Mae in June 2023.
The LPGA Tour has announced an exciting 2025 season featuring a record-breaking $131 million in prize money across 35 events. This announcement comes as the LPGA celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The overall prize fund for the 2025 season exceeds $131 million, which is approximately a 90% increase from 2021’s total of around $69 million124. This includes a combined purse of over $47 million for five major tournaments.
The season will kick off with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions from January 30 to February 2 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando. The first major of the year, The Chevron Championship is scheduled for April 24-27 at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas with a purse of $6 million.
Sixteen events will feature purses of at least $3 million including tournaments like the US Women’s Open. The CME Group Tour Championship will conclude the season with a purse of $11 million including a $4 million winner’s check.
According to the latest LPGA news reports, the tour will take place across 14 states in the US and travel to 11 countries.
CME Group and the Ladies Professional Golf Association have announced an extension of their partnership, which will now run through 2027. This collaboration includes the CME Group Tour Championship, which will feature a total purse of $11 million for 2024.
The winner of the championship will receive a $4 million prize, the largest single payout in women’s golf history, the runner-up will earn $1 million.
This builds on CME Group’s title sponsorship of the LPGA’s season-ending tournament, which began in 2011. The partnership also encompasses the Race to the CME Globe.
Since its inception, this initiative has contributed to increasing interest and participation in women’s golf, with over 7 million women golfers now engaged in the sport.
CME Group’s commitment is beyond financial support, they have also made charitable contributions including over $4.5 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 2018.
LPGA’s 2025 Schedule, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
The LPGA Tour is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025 with a record-breaking schedule that showcases the growth and success of women’s professional golf.
The tour will feature 35 events including 33 official tournaments and will distribute a total prize fund exceeding $131 million. This is the largest prize pool in the tour’s history, an increase of over $62 million since 2021, a 90% growth in just four years.
| Date | Event | Location | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 30 – Feb. 2 | Hilton Grand Vacations T of C | Lake Nona G&CC, Orlando | $2 million |
| April 24 – 27 | The Chevron Championship | The Club at Carlton Woods | $6 million |
| May 29 – June 1 | U.S. Women’s Open | Erin Hills, Wisconsin | $12 million |
| June 19 – 22 | KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Fields Ranch East, Texas | $4.1 million |
| July 10 – 13 | Amundi Evian Championship | Evian Resort, France | $3.5 million |
| July 31 – Aug. 3 | AIG Women’s Open | Royal Porthcawl, Wales | $3.5 million |
| Nov. 20 – 23 | CME Group Tour Championship | Tiburon GC, Naples | $11 million |
Non-major purses are projected to exceed $83 million with several tournaments already announcing elevated prize amounts. The FM Championship has surpassed a $4 million purse.
The tour will expand its geographical footprint visiting 14 states in the US and 11 countries worldwide including two multi-event swings in Asia and a European swing during the summer.
2024 Rolex LPGA Awards, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
The 2024 Rolex LPGA Awards took place on November 20, 2024, in Naples, Florida.
Nelly Korda was the standout of the evening receiving both the Rolex Player of the Year award and the Rolex Annika Major Award recognizing her performance across major tournaments throughout the season.
Lydia Ko was honored with the Heather Farr Perseverance Award, while Ally Ewing received the Founders Award both determined through player votes.
Three golfers, Lauren Coughlin, Linnea Strom and Bailey Tardy, were celebrated as Rolex First-Time Winners.
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Rolex Player of the Year | Nelly Korda |
| Rolex Annika Major Award | Nelly Korda |
| Heather Farr Perseverance Award | Lydia Ko |
| Founders Award | Ally Ewing |
| Rolex First-Time Winners | Lauren Coughlin, Linnea Strom, Bailey Tardy |
Nelly Korda’s Victory at The ANNIKA, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
Nelly Korda achieved a milestone by winning The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club on November 17, 2024. This victory is her seventh win of the LPGA season.
Korda entered the final round one stroke behind Charley Hull but surged ahead with a performance, scoring five consecutive birdies from holes 11 to 15.
She finished the tournament with a total score of 14-under-par, three strokes clear of Hull, Jin Hee Im and Weiwei Zhang.
A touching moment during her victory was the presence of her brother, Sebastian Korda, who drove nearly two hours to watch her compete.
With this win, Korda has accumulated over $4 million in earnings this season positioning herself close to breaking the LPGA single-season record set by Lorena Ochoa in 2007.
Korda’s seven victories in a single season place her among an elite group of American golfers including legends like Kathy Whitworth and Nancy Lopez. She is now recognized as one of only four Americans since 1970 to achieve this feat.
Korda has not only excelled in individual tournaments but also contributed to Team USA’s success in the Solheim Cup.
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2024 CME Group Tour Championship, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
The 2024 CME Group Tour Championship took place from November 21-24 at the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples. It is a prestigious event on the LPGA Tour.
This year, the tournament features a total purse of $11 million with a record-setting $4 million awarded to the winne.
The championship shows the top 60 LPGA Tour players including names like Nelly Korda, currently ranked No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and Lydia Ko, a inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame. Other contenders include Hannah Green and Ruoning Yin.
The event is covered by NBC and Golf Channel featuring a seasoned commentary team that includes analysts like Brandel Chamblee and former LPGA player Paige Mackenzie.
According to the latest LPGA news reports, the CME Group has extended its sponsorship of this championship through 2027. The partnership has been instrumental in promoting competitive golf and also charitable initiatives such as donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital based on players’ performances during the season.
As of now, Nelly Korda leads the Race to the CME Globe standings with 1,378.875 points and total earnings of $4.2 million.
Haeran Ryu was ranked second with 1,013.448 points and earnings of $2.8 million. She trails Korda by a huge margin of over 1,365 points.
In third place with 1,314.323 points and earnings of $2.7 million, Lydia Ko has also had a great year.
Ayaka Furue is fourth with 1,281.248 points and earnings of $2.7 million.
Ruoning Yin is fifth with 1,250.000 points, earning approximately $2.4 million.
Current Leaders in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
| Rank | Player | Country | Points | Events Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelly Korda | United States | 11.95 | 37 |
| 2 | Yin Ruoning | China | 7.28 | 37 |
| 3 | Lilia Vu | United States | 7.20 | 40 |
| 4 | Lydia Ko | New Zealand | 6.80 | 45 |
| 5 | Hannah Green | Australia | 5.87 | 42 |
Major Tournament Performances, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
| Tournament | Winner | Score | Rounds Under Par | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Women’s Open | Yuka Saso | -10 | All rounds under par | Youngest two-time winner at age 22 |
| KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Amy Yang | -7 | Final round level par | First major win after 75 attempts |
| Chevron Championship | Nelly Korda | -15 | All rounds in the 60s | Fifth consecutive LPGA Tour victory |
| Evian Championship | Ayaka Furue | -19 | All rounds under par | First major title with dramatic eagle finish |
| AIG Women’s Open | Lydia Ko | -12 | All rounds under par | Ended eight-year major drought |
Top-Earning Players, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
| Rank | Player Name | Total Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelly Korda | $4,235,819 |
| 2 | Haeran Ryu | $2,870,392 |
| 3 | Lydia Ko | $2,614,758 |
| 4 | Ayaka Furue | $2,450,777 |
| 5 | Ruoning Yin | $2,357,983 |
LPGA Tour Average Scores and Rankings, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
| Rank | Player | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeeno Thitikul | 69.54 |
| 2 | Nelly Korda | 69.66 |
| 3 | Haeran Ryu | 69.98 |
| 4 | Ayaka Furue | 70.05 |
| 5 | Ruoning Yin | 70.22 |
Top Rookies and Performances, As of LPGA News Reports (November 2024)
| Player | Points | Top-10 Finishes | GIR (%) | Putts/Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mao Saigo | 829 | 7 | 75 | 28 |
| Jin Hee Im | 707 | 4 | 72 | 29 |
| Gabriela Ruffels | 494 | 4 | 70 | 30 |
| Nataliya Guseva | 312 | 4 | 68 | 31 |
| Somi Lee | 362 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
According to the latest LPGA news reports, the performance of international players on the LPGA Tour particularly those from South Korea, Japan and Europe. This analysis will focus on their statistics compared to US players, as well as their contributions in team-based events like the Solheim Cup.
South Korean golfers have dominated the LPGA Tour. In 2024, Nelly Korda was recognized as the Rolex Player of the Year after securing seven victories, but South Korean players like Amy Yang and Lydia Ko also had great seasons.
Japanese golfers have also made their mark with players like Yuka Saso and Rio Takeda achieving success. Saso won the US Women’s Open and continued to perform well throughout the season, while Takeda won the Toto Japan Classic.
European players including those from countries like Sweden and England have shown competitive prowess as well. Players such as Charley Hull and Celine Boutier have been consistent contenders in various tournaments throughout the season.
US players remain a force on the LPGA Tour with Nelly Korda leading the charge. The competition is fierce, as US players frequently engage in head-to-head matchups against their international counterparts during major events and regular tournaments.
In 2024, Nelly Korda led with seven victories, while South Korean players collectively secured numerous wins across various events.
The Solheim Cup saw strong performances from both sides with European players often performing well against their US counterparts.
Top Sources Related to Latest LPGA News, Awards, Schedule, Top Players and More – November 2024 (For R&D)
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