Every LPGA Player Of The Year Winner Since 1966

A look at which players have won the LPGA Tour's Player of the Year title since the award's inception in 1966

Annika Sorenstam holds the Player of the Year trophy
Annika Sorenstam has won a record eight LPGA Tour Player of the Year titles
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The LPGA Tour is the top circuit in women's professional golf featuring the majority of the world's best female golfers.

The Player of the Year award, sponsored by Rolex, has been handed out since 1966, and the first woman to win the title - Kathy Whitworth - won it in four consecutive years and in seven of the first eight years.

But it isn't Whitworth who has won the title the most, as 72-time LPGA Tour winner Annika Sorenstam tops the list with a huge eight Player of the Year titles. 

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Sorenstam won the award eight times between 1995 and 2005 to sit on top of the pile with most POY titles.

Unlike the PGA Tour's Player of the Year honor, which is voted for by members, the LPGA has a points system so there can be no debate as to who the season's top performer was. Points are awarded for top-10 finishes throughout the season, with the five Majors offering double points.

The reigning LPGA Tour Rolex Player of the Year is Lilia Vu, with the American capturing two Majors during the 2023 season to win the title for the first time. World No.1 Nelly Korda is set to win the title in 2024, also for the first time.

Take a look at every LPGA Tour Player of the Year winner since the award's inception in 1966...

The LPGA Player of the Year trophy and a Rolex watch

(Image credit: Getty Images)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
LPGA Player of the Year winners
Year LPGA Player of the Year
1966 Kathy Whitworth
1967 Kathy Whitworth (2)
1968 Kathy Whitworth (3)
1969 Kathy Whitworth (4)
1970 Sandra Haynie
1971 Kathy Whitworth (5)
1972 Kathy Whitworth (6)
1973 Kathy Whitworth (7)
1974 JoAnne Carner
1975 Sandra Palmer
1976 Judy Rankin
1977 Judy Rankin (2)
1978 Nancy Lopez
1979 Nancy Lopez (2)
1980 Beth Daniel
1981 JoAnne Carner (2)
1982 JoAnne Carner (3)
1983 Patty Sheehan
1984 Betsy King
1985 Nancy Lopez (3)
1986 Pat Bradley
1987 Ayoko Okamoto
1988 Nancy Lopez (4)
1989 Betsy King (2)
1990 Beth Daniel (2)
1991 Pat Bradley (2)
1992 Dottie Mochrie
1993 Betsy King (3)
1994 Beth Daniel (3)
1995 Annika Sorenstam
1996 Laura Davies
1997 Annika Sorenstam (2)
1998 Annika Sorenstam (3)
1999 Karrie Webb
2000 Karrie Webb (2)
2001 Annika Sorenstam (4)
2002 Annika Sorenstam (5)
2003 Annika Sorenstam (6)
2004 Annika Sorenstam (7)
2005 Annika Sorenstam (8)
2006 Lorena Ochoa
2007 Lorena Ochoa (2)
2008 Lorena Ochoa (3)
2009 Lorena Ochoa (4)
2010 Yani Tseng
2011 Yani Tseng (2)
2012 Stacy Lewis
2013 Inbee Park
2014 Stacy Lewis (2)
2015 Lydia Ko
2016 Ariya Jutanugarn
2017 Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu
2018 Ariya Jutanugarn (2)
2019 Jin-young Ko
2020 Sei-young Kim
2021 Jin-young Ko (2)
2022 Lydia Ko (2)
2023 Lilia Vu
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Most LPGA Tour Player of the Year awards
Player Number of LPGA POY titles
Annika Sorenstam 8
Kathy Whitworth 7
Nancy Lopez 4
Lorena Ochoa 4
JoAnne Carner 3
Betsy King 3
Beth Daniel 3
Judy Rankin 2
Pat Bradley 2
Karrie Webb 2
Yani Tseng 2
Stacy Lewis 2
Ariya Jutanugarn 2
Jin-young Ko 2
Lydia Ko 2
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LPGA Tour Player of the Year points distribution
Finish Points
1st 30
2nd 12
3rd 9
4th 7
5th 6
6th 5
7th 4
8th 3
9th 2
10th 1

*Note: Points in Majors are doubled

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.