LPGA 2025: Celebrating the Female Player of the Year and Top Performers
The 2025 LPGA season began with the possibility of no repeat winners, contrasting sharply with the previous year’s dominance by Nelly Korda, who clinched seven titles. This year showcased a diverse field, boasting 29 different champions, but in the end, one standout player claimed the prestigious title of Golfweek’s Female Player of the Year.
Honorable Mentions
Minjee Lee
Australia’s Minjee Lee secured her third major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, demonstrating resilience amidst challenging winds and a controversial course design to win by three strokes. Her impressive performance continued with a T-3 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship, allowing her to capture the Rolex Annika Major Award for the second time in her career.
2025 Season Highlights:
- Total Starts: 22
- Cuts Missed: 1
- Top 10 Finishes: 8
- Best Major Finish: T-22 (all five majors)
Lee’s resurgence can be attributed to her switch to a long putter, marking a significant turnaround in her performance.
Miyu Yamashita
Japan’s Miyu Yamashita quickly established her reputation on the LPGA, winning her first tournament at the AIG Women’s British Open in Wales. Following this, she claimed her second title in a playoff at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
2025 Achievements:
- LPGA Titles: 2 (including a major)
- Rolex Player of the Year Points: 2nd
- Awards: 2025 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year
Her successful transition from the JLPGA, where she has 13 titles, has solidified her position among the elite players in women’s golf.
Female Player of the Year: Jeeno Thitikul
Jeeno Thitikul cemented her status as the standout player of the 2025 season, finishing strong with her second consecutive victory at the CME Group Tour Championship. This win came with a remarkable $4 million prize, making it a highlight of her year where she accumulated three victories out of 20 starts.
Performance Metrics:
- Top-3 Finishes: 5
- Scoring Average: 68.68 (besting Annika Sorenstam’s 2002 record by 0.02)
- Total Earnings: $7,578,330 (single-season earnings record)
Thitikul’s consistency has led her to dominate the tour in birdies or better averages for a third straight year, a feat last achieved by Lorena Ochoa from 2006 to 2008. Though she has yet to win a major, finishing as a runner-up in the Amundi Evian Championship, her accolades highlight her incredible talent and potential.
"I think it’s just an honor," said Thitikul regarding her season-long achievements. "Holding that trophy feels, you know, kind of goosebumps. It represents consistency over the whole season."
Previous Winners of Female Player of the Year
- 2024: Nelly Korda
- 2023: Lilia Vu
- 2022: Lydia Ko
As the 2025 season wraps up, the LPGA looks forward to another exciting year, filled with emerging talent and competitive spirit among its players. The stage is set for further showdown as fans anticipate who will rise to the top in the seasons to come.
