Lydia Ko has been on a magical run lately, dominating the LPGA tour with three titles, including a major, and an Olympic gold medal. Despite her impressive performance, she still trails Nelly Korda by 100 points in the Player of the Year race. With a limited number of starts left in the season, Ko would need to win three more times and finish second at least once to have a chance at catching up to Korda. The points system for the POY race awards points for top-10 finishes and doubles them at majors, with a victory at a regular event worth 30 points and a major victory worth 60.
In 2021, Nelly Korda won four times on the LPGA tour, including the KPMG Women’s PGA, and also secured an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. Despite her impressive season, she was edged out in the Player of the Year race by Jin Young Ko, who won five times on the LPGA tour with no majors but had 13 top-10 finishes. Ko took the POY title based on the strength of her consistent performance throughout the season, beating Korda by 14 points. If Korda had received the 30 points for her gold medal performance, she would have won the honor.
Now that Lydia Ko is already in the LPGA Hall of Fame, having met the requirement of 27 points, she may not be too concerned about the POY race this year. However, looking ahead, the Olympics should be considered in the overall assessment of an LPGA season. While the points system is designed to be objective and unbiased, it should also reflect the current landscape of the sport. There is still time to adjust the points structure before the 2028 season to ensure that all aspects of a player’s performance are accurately accounted for.
It is worth noting that the Olympics are not currently factored into the Player of the Year race, despite the prestige and significance of an Olympic gold medal. Given that Ko’s gold medal-winning performance in Paris was instrumental in her Hall of Fame induction, it seems reasonable to include Olympic performance in the POY calculations as well. By considering all aspects of a player’s achievements, including their performance on the global stage such as the Olympics, the POY race can truly reflect the best player of the year.
While Ko’s recent success may not be enough to overtake Korda in the current POY race, her remarkable performance this season highlights her talent and potential. With her already secure place in the LPGA Hall of Fame, Ko can focus on continuing to excel on the tour and adding to her impressive record. As the LPGA continues to evolve and grow, it is important to ensure that the points system for awards such as the Player of the Year reflects the changing dynamics of the sport and recognizes all aspects of a player’s success. By incorporating achievements such as Olympic medals into the calculations, the POY race can become a more comprehensive and accurate measure of excellence in women’s golf.
