SHIGA, Japan — Nelly Korda clinched her first award for LPGA player of the year when it became mathematically impossible for anyone to catch her in the points-based competition.
Korda had to skip two tournaments during the Asia swing because of a minor neck injury that limited her practice. Ayaka Furue of Japan would have had to win the rest of the LPGA events to catch Korda. Furue tied for 10th in the Toto Japan Classic, AP reported.
The American professional golfer won six times this year, including a major championship. She won five straight tournaments earlier in the season to tie the LPGA record.
This marks the second straight year an American player has won the biggest LPGA award. Lilia Vu won the award in 2023 on the strength of two majors.
The last time Americans won LPGA player of the year in successive years was Betsy King in 1993 and Beth Daniel in 1994.
Korda, the No. 1 player in the women’s world ranking, still has two tournaments left as she tries to win the Race to CME Globe, which is decided in the season finale Nov. 21-24.
Japan’s Rio Takeda, meanwhile, saw off American Marina Alex after a sixth playoff hole to win the LPGA Japan Classic.
Takeda birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff with Alex and came through a prolonged battle to earn herself an LPGA Tour card.
“I was planning to take Q-school in December and now I can skip that and go and play next year on the LPGA tour, which is exciting for me now,” said the 21-year-old according to AFP.
Takeda claimed her first LPGA win at her sixth attempt, and kept the title in Japan after countrywoman Mone Inami lifted the trophy last year.
It was also Takeda’s eighth win this season on Japan’s JLPGA tour, which was co-sanctioning the event.
Takeda began the day at Seta Golf Course three shots off the lead but she looked to have blown it after carding successive bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes.
She came roaring back into contention with an eagle on the par-five 16th hole, before a birdie on 18 took the competition to a playoff.
“I was three strokes behind when I finished the 15th, but I never gave up so I thought I could win,” she said.
Alex was looking to win her first title in over two years and her third overall on the LPGA tour. She carded six birdies and no bogeys to finish level with Takeda after 18 holes on 15-under overall.
The 34-year-old Alex said she was “very tired, ready for a beer”. “A little disappointed, but it was still a great tournament,” she said.
“I’m really proud of how I played. I’m excited I have a few more starts before the end of the season.
“Maybe we’ll get one.” The greatest threat to Alex’s lead looked like coming from South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran.
The world No 6 was 6-under par for the day after a round that featured one bogey and seven birdies, one of which came on the final hole.
Japan’s world number 236 Hana Wakimoto went into the final day with a two-shot lead but she finished three shots off the pace.
Yuka Saso started five shots off the lead but she endured a nightmare start to the final round.
The reigning US Open champion carded a double-bogey and a triple-bogey on the opening five holes and finished nine shots out of first place.
Australia’s Hannah Green held off a late surge from France’s Celine Boutier to win the LPGA BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.
Green went into the final day with a two-shot advantage, but Boutier hit five birdies in her final seven holes to card a six-under 66 and lead in the clubhouse on 18-under par at Seowon Valley Country Club.
Green’s birdie on the 17th hole proved enough to clinch her third title of the year, as she finished with a round of 71 and a 19-under par total of 269.
“It helps that I’ve been hitting the ball well, and when the putter goes well, it does go well,” said the 27-year-old.
“So just making sure that I can stay consistent. But I still have four or five more tournaments for the rest of the year, so I want to continue to work hard and have myself in these types of positions.”
It was the sixth LPGA title for Green, who won a major at the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship.
The 30-year-old Boutier, who finished in a share of ninth at last week’s LPGA Shanghai, said: “I had a lot of opportunities on the front (nine) but I just wasn’t able to convert.
“And on the back, I was able to hit a few really close and that gave me kind of confidence.”
