Korda named LPGA Tour Player of the Year

World number one Nelly Korda has claimed her second points-based LPGA player-of-the-year award.

The 28-year-old won four times this year, including the first two majors – The Chevron Championship and the US Women’s Open at Riviera.

The American, who won the award in 2024, is one victory away from qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

To qualify for the Hall of Fame, a player must accumulate 27 points and meet a mandatory performance requirement.

A major championship win is worth two points, while an LPGA Tour victory is worth one point.

Korda currently sits on 26 points.

Asked about potentially entering the Hall of Fame, Korda said in June: “I think it’s an amazing accomplishment and it would be one of the best achievements of my career for sure.”

The four-time major winner opened the 2026 LPGA Tour season with a six-tournament stretch where she either won or finished as the runner-up, to open a healthy lead in the points race.

South Korea’s Haeran Ryu also won two majors this year but withdrew from last week’s tournament in Malaysia because of injury.

And with Japan’s Miyu Yamashita and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul not entering The Annika next week in Florida, Korda secured the award with three tournaments remaining.

Korda would not be the youngest player to make the Hall of Fame as New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and South Korea’s Inbee Park were both 27 when they qualified.

The LPGA Tour season continues this week with the Toto Japan Classic in Omitama, Japan.

Miyu Yamashita, who won the LPGA's Maybank Championship in Malaysia over the weekend, was among three players atop the leaderboard after Thursday's first round.

Yamashita and fellow Japanese Aki Iwai and Sayaka Takahashi shot 6-under-66s for a one-stroke lead over a group of three more just off the pace.

Iwai is also coming off a T-2 finish in late September in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Minami Hiruta, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Fuka Suga shot 67 Thursday.

Nine players, including defending champion Nasa Hataoka, were two off the lead after 68s on the 6,598-yard layout.

The Toto Japan Classic is the last of four tournaments in the LPGA's so-called late-season Asian swing.

South Korea’s Hwang Yoo-min shot a 4-under 68 in the first round, tying for seventh place.

Hwang Yoo-min, who won the LPGA Tour by winning the Lotte Championship last year as an invited player, was listed in the top 25 eight times this year.