SHIGA, Japan — Nelly Korda has secured her first LPGA Player of the Year award, clinching the title on Sunday as it became mathematically impossible for other competitors to surpass her in the points standings.

Due to a slight neck injury, Korda had to withdraw from two tournaments during the Asian tour, which restricted her practice time. Japanese golfer Ayaka Furue needed to secure victories in all remaining LPGA events to have a chance at catching up to Korda’s points, but she ended up tying for 10th place in the Toto Japan Classic.

This year, Korda celebrated an impressive six tournament wins, including a significant major championship. Notably, she achieved a remarkable feat by winning five consecutive tournaments earlier in the season, which tied the LPGA’s record for consecutive victories.

For the second consecutive year, an American player has claimed the prestigious LPGA Player of the Year honor. Lilia Vu was the recipient of this award in 2023 after an outstanding performance that included victories at two major championships. The last instance in which American golfers won the LPGA Player of the Year award in consecutive years was back in 1993 and 1994, with Betsy King and Beth Daniel, respectively.

Currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the women’s world rankings, Korda still has two tournaments remaining on her schedule as she aims to capture the Race to CME Globe, with the season finale slated for November 21-24.