Lilia Vu added a little bit extra magic to her 2023 LPGA season, clinching the most recent Rolex Participant of the 12 months Award.
Her 2023 season was so robust, she didn’t even need to win the CME Group Tour Championship. Vu solely wanted to complete eighth or higher to say the season-long title.
The 2-time main winner completed fourth at 21-under, incomes her the accolade. Vu turned the primary American since Stacy Lewis in 2014 to win this award.
South Korea’s Amy Yang gained the occasion at 27-under by three strokes forward of Alison Lee and Nasa Hataoka.
Vu and Celine Boutier have been the highest two gamers within the race for Participant of the 12 months honors coming into the LPGA Tour’s season finale.
The latest No. 1 participant on this planet is coming off a win on the ANNIKA pushed by Gainbridge at Pelican, her fourth victory of the season. She additionally gained each of her majors this 12 months on the Chevron Championship and the AIG Ladies’s Open. The 26-year-old additionally turned a Rolex First-Time winner on the Honda LPGA Thailand.
She turned the first American since Julie Inkster in 1999 to win two majors in a single season, which awarded her the Rolex ANNIKA Main Award.
“I feel it’s been unreal for that to occur,” Vu stated. “I feel final 12 months I used to be telling Cole [my caddie] on the final gap; I keep in mind after the final spherical, final gap, I broke down in tears. I used to be actually onerous on myself. I used to be onerous on myself this 12 months, too, however a lot nicer. Got here in with no expectations and tried to win each event that I performed in. Simply stored my objectives small, and I feel that helped me obtain Participant of the 12 months.”
Vu was additionally a U.S. Solheim Cup Crew member at Finca Cortesin this previous September. Her season isn’t over, as she is going to pair up with Joel Dahmen in December on the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You may comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.