Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 20, 2023 – The 2023 LPGA Tour season will be remembered as a year of remarkable achievements. Athletes from around the world showcased their talent, leading to a record-breaking number of Rolex First-Time Winners and an increase in prize money. As the Tour sets its sights on the 2024 season, the stage is set for even more growth and excitement.
Outstanding Performances and Awards
Lilia Vu was awarded the prestigious 2023 Rolex Player of the Year after her impressive fourth-place finish at the CME Group Tour Championship. Vu’s exceptional season included four tournament victories, including major wins at The Chevron Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. Notably, Vu became the first American to win the Rolex Player of the Year since Stacy Lewis in 2014, making her the 26th different player to receive this honor since its inception in 1966. Additionally, Vu’s exceptional performance in the major championships earned her the 2023 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
Atthaya Thitikul secured the Vare Trophy with a season scoring average of 69.533. Thitikul became the 34th different winner of this prestigious award and the second player from Thailand to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Ariya Jutanugarn in 2018. Thitikul’s success came after an impressive rookie campaign in 2022, where she claimed two victories and won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award.
Angel Yin had a career-defining year, capturing her first LPGA Tour victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai and finishing as the runner-up at The Chevron Championship. Yin also emerged victorious in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, earning a $1 million prize for making the best decisions on strategically challenging holes across the LPGA Tour.
Record-Breaking Earnings
The 2023 LPGA Tour season witnessed a historic milestone as 28 players earned more than $1 million, the highest number in Tour history. Lilia Vu led the Official Money List with earnings of $3,502,303, followed closely by Amy Yang and Allisen Corpuz, who also surpassed the $3 million mark. Furthermore, the top 128 players earned more than $100,000, reflecting the Tour’s continued growth and prosperity. Vu’s exceptional season secured her the top spot on the 2024 LPGA Tour Priority List by finishing atop the Race to the CME Globe standings.
Celebrating Excellence
The annual LPGA Rolex Awards, held at the Ritz Carlton Naples, honored several outstanding individuals. Hae Ran Ryu was recognized as the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, while Lexi Thompson received the Founders Award and Jane Park was awarded the Heather Farr Perseverance Award. The event also celebrated the achievements of 12 Rolex First-Time Winners, marking the highest number of first-time winners in a single season in Tour history.
Looking Ahead to 2024
The Tour announced an exciting schedule for the 2024 season, featuring 35 events, including 33 official events and two unofficial team events. The world’s best golfers will compete for a total prize fund exceeding 8 million, with $116.55 million in official money, the highest in Tour history. Notable highlights of the season will include the inaugural FM Global Championship at TPC Boston, the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club near Washington D.C. Additionally, more tournaments will receive network television coverage, and ESPN+ will provide featured-group coverage for four events.
Closing Out 2023
Although the official 2023 LPGA Tour season has concluded, there are still two notable events remaining on the calendar. The LPGA Q-Series will take place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Ala., from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, 2023. This event serves as the final qualifying opportunity for players to earn their 2024 LPGA Tour status.
The Grant Thornton Invitational, scheduled for Dec. 4-10 at Tiburon Golf Club, will mark the end of the 2023 season. This mixed-team event will bring together players from the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, competing for equal prizes and visibility. Notable teams include Nelly Korda and Tony Finau, Lydia Ko and Jason Day, and Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler.
As the LPGA Tour reflects on the remarkable achievements of the 2023 season, the stage is set for even greater success and excitement in the upcoming 2024 season.The LPGA Tour Wraps Up a Memorable 2023 Season with Exciting Achievements and Anticipation for 2024
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 20, 2023 – The LPGA Tour concluded its 2023 season with a bang, showcasing breakthrough performances from athletes worldwide, a record-breaking number of Rolex First-Time Winners, and continually rising purses. As the Tour sets its sights on the 2024 season, the stage is set for even more growth and excitement.
2023 Season-Ending Awards
Lilia Vu emerged as the 2023 Rolex Player of the Year, capping off her remarkable season with a fourth-place finish at the CME Group Tour Championship. Vu’s outstanding year included four tournament victories, including major wins at The Chevron Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. Notably, Vu became the first American to claim the Rolex Player of the Year title since Stacy Lewis in 2014, making her the 26th different player to earn this prestigious award since its inception in 1966. Additionally, Vu’s exceptional performance in the major championships earned her the 2023 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
Atthaya Thitikul secured the Vare Trophy with a season scoring average of 69.533. Thitikul, the second player from Thailand to earn this honor after Ariya Jutanugarn in 2018, continued her impressive rookie campaign from 2022, where she clinched the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year title after winning two tournaments.
Angel Yin had a career-defining year, capturing her first LPGA Tour victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai and finishing as the runner-up at The Chevron Championship. Yin also claimed the Aon Risk Reward Challenge and its $1 million prize, awarded to the player who demonstrates exceptional decision-making on strategically challenging holes across the LPGA Tour.
Record-Breaking Earnings and Awards
The 2023 LPGA Tour season witnessed a historic milestone as 28 players earned more than $1 million, the highest number in Tour history. Lilia Vu topped the Official Money List with $3,502,303 in earnings, followed closely by Amy Yang and Allisen Corpuz, who also surpassed the $3 million mark. Furthermore, the top 128 players earned more than $100,000, reflecting the Tour’s continued growth and prosperity. Vu’s exceptional season also secured her the top spot on the 2024 LPGA Tour Priority List by finishing atop the Race to the CME Globe standings.
The annual LPGA Rolex Awards, held at the Ritz Carlton Naples, celebrated the achievements of several outstanding individuals. Hae Ran Ryu was honored as the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, while Lexi Thompson received the Founders Award and Jane Park was recognized with the Heather Farr Perseverance Award. The event also highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of 12 Rolex First-Time Winners, the highest number of first-time winners in a single season in Tour history.
CME Group Tour Championship Highlights
The CME Group Tour Championship, hosted at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, concluded the 2023 season in style. Amy Yang emerged victorious, securing her fifth career LPGA Tour title. The tournament also marked the culmination of the season-long CME Group Cares Challenge – Score 1 for St. Jude, a charitable giving program that transformed aces into donations. Throughout the season, CME Group donated $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour, resulting in a total donation of $1.3 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading institution in the fight against childhood cancer and life-threatening diseases.
Looking Ahead to 2024
The Tour announced an exciting schedule for the 2024 season, featuring 35 events, including 33 official events and two unofficial team events. Golf enthusiasts can anticipate a total prize fund of over $118 million, with $116.55 million in official money, the highest in Tour history. Notable highlights of the upcoming season include the inaugural FM Global Championship at TPC Boston, the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club near Washington D.C. Additionally, more tournaments will receive network television coverage, with an increase from 10 events in 2023, and ESPN+ will provide featured-group coverage for four events.
Closing Out 2023
Although the official 2023 LPGA Tour season has concluded, two significant events remain to wrap up the calendar year. The LPGA Q-Series will take place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, 2023. This six-round tournament, spanning 108 holes, will determine the final qualifiers for the 2024 LPGA Tour.
The Grant Thornton Invitational, scheduled to debut from Dec. 4-10 at Tiburon Golf Club, will mark the end of the 2023 season. This mixed-team event will bring together players from the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, competing for equal prizes and visibility. Notable pairings for the Grant Thornton Invitational include Nelly Korda and Tony Finau, Lydia Ko and Jason Day, and Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler.
As the LPGA Tour bids farewell to an unforgettable 2023 season, the anticipation for the upcoming year continues to build. With remarkable achievements, rising stars, and exciting events on the horizon, the future of women’s professional golf looks brighter than ever.