Nelly Korda has secured her second Rolex Player of the Year award and moved to within a single point of qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The 28-year-old American has won four times in 2026, including major victories at the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open, building an advantage none of her remaining challengers can overcome with three tournaments left on the LPGA schedule.
It is Korda’s second Player of the Year title in three seasons after also claiming the award in 2024.
Dominant Season Secures Top Honour
Korda sits on 239 Player of the Year points after a season featuring four victories and 10 top-10 finishes.
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu is second on 176, with Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul third on 155 and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita fourth on 126.
Korda skipped the LPGA Tour’s recent Asian swing, but the results and entry lists ultimately ensured none of her closest rivals could gather enough points to catch her.
The achievement also makes her the first player in the past decade to mathematically secure the award twice before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
One Point From The Hall Of Fame
The Player of the Year award gives Korda her 26th LPGA Hall of Fame point, leaving her just one short of the 27 required for automatic qualification.
Her most direct route is now simple: win again.
Korda is scheduled to play The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. A victory in either event would provide the final point she needs.
She is not eligible for the Vare Trophy this season because she has not met the minimum requirement for rounds played, removing another potential route to that final Hall of Fame point.
History Within Reach
Korda already owns 19 LPGA Tour victories and is the world No. 1, but Hall of Fame qualification would add another major milestone to her career.
Her next opportunity comes at The ANNIKA, an event she has already won three times.
A fourth victory there would not only secure Hall of Fame eligibility, but make Korda the first LPGA player to win the same tournament four times in seven appearances.
After already locking away the Tour’s biggest individual season award, Korda now needs just one more win to reach one of women’s golf’s most demanding career milestones.
