Die LPGA Tour goes into the winter break, but the last event before the turn of the year was really tough. Lydia Ko not only dominated the CME Group Tour Championship from start to finish, but also received the largest winner’s check in women’s golf history. The 25-year-old received a record $2 million. From a German point of view, the tournament in Naples, Florida was only Caroline Masson with the party. Born in Gladbeck, she secured a place among the top 30 Proetten at the end of the year.
LPGA Tour: Lydia Ko wins Player of the Year for the second time
It was a successful weekend for Lydia Ko in every respect. The native South Korean dominated the field from the first shot at the CME Group Tour Championship. With 65 strokes on Thursday and 66 on Friday, she went into Moving Day as the leader. She was not able to displace any of her competitors from the top position at the weekend either. Ireland’s Leona Maguire managed to join Ko at the top after Day 3, but was unable to match the 25-year-old’s pace. Although Ko only managed rounds of 70 on Saturday and Sunday, it was enough for the win in the end. At 17 under par, Ko wins the final event of calendar year 2022, relegating Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist to second and third place respectively and earning her 19th win on the LPGA Tour.
A Sunday she’ll never forget ????
Watch highlights from Lydia Ko’s win at the 2022 @CMEGroupLPGA! ???? pic.twitter.com/ShIkBfJvjn
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 21, 2022
However, there were more reasons to celebrate for the South Korean. With her victory, the 25-year-old Proette snagged the “Player of the Year” trophy from Rolex for the second time. In addition, she also secured the highest prize money ever won in women’s golf with a record prize money of 2 million dollars. As if all that wasn’t enough, she also once again secured the Vare Trophy, which is presented to the player with the lowest average score. A weekend the world No. 3 won’t soon forget: “Being Player of the Year, winning the Vare Trophy again and winning the CME Group Tour Championship is a dream come true. This in front of family and Being able to do something for my team is very special,” said Ko, who is just two points away from the 27 points required for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. “As much as I’m excited to have won, I’m also looking forward to taking some time off and becoming a bride soon.”
It’s a SWEEP for Lydia Ko ⭐️
– Winner of the CME Group Tour Championship
– Vare Trophy Winner
– @ROLEX Player of the Year
– $4,364,403 earned (2nd most in a season all-time)What. A. Season. pic.twitter.com/pCM6MrrN49
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 20, 2022
Caroline Masson finishes the season in the top 30
Things could have gone better, but also significantly worse in the last event of the 2022 season for Caroline Masson. The 33-year-old was the only German golfer to start in Naples, Florida and ended her season with a place in the top 30 women. After an even par round at the start, Masson found his way into the tournament better and better and recorded two rounds under par (70, 70). On Sunday, however, she had to accept a round over par, also because of a double bogey on lane 4. With a score of -3, Masson is tied for 25th place. This season Masson completed 24 tournaments on the LPGA Tourin which she was able to pocket a total prize money of 425,919 US dollars.