The LPGA, founded in 1950, first recognized the tour’s scoring leader in 1953. Patty Berg was the first winner, and she’d go on to win three of the first four titles. The Vare Trophy, named after the legendary Glenna Collett Vare, is considered by many players to be the true measure of a season given that every stroke counts. It’s the mark of consistent greatness.
Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player in all of golf, won the Vare Trophy a record seven times. Annika Sorenstam, who holds the record for the lowest scoring average of 68.70 in 2002, won it six times.
In 2024, Ayaka Furue becamse the first Japanese player to win the award in its now 72-year history.
To be eligible for the Vare, a player must compete in a minimum of 60 total or 60 percent of official tournament rounds with an individual score, whichever is less, during the season.
She must also compete in a minimum of 70 total or 70 percent of total official tournament rounds, whichever is less, during the season; in seasons that include the Olympic Games, rounds played also count toward this requirement.
Here’s the complete list of Vare winners:
| Year | Player | Scoring average |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ayaka Furue | 69.988 |
| 2023 | Atthaya Thitikul | 69.533 |
| 2022 | Lydia Ko | 68.988 |
| 2021 | Lydia Ko | 69.329 |
| 2020 | Danielle Kang | 70.082 |
| 2019 | Jin Young Ko | 69.062 |
| 2018 | Ariya Jutanugarn | 69.415 |
| 2017 | Lexi Thompson | 69.114 |
| 2016 | In Gee Chun | 69.583 |
| 2015 | Inbee Park | 69.415 |
| 2014 | Stacy Lewis | 69.53 |
| 2013 | Stacy Lewis | 69.48 |
| 2012 | Inbee Park | 69.643 |
| 2011 | Yani Tseng | 69.66 |
| 2010 | Na Yeon Choi | 69.873 |
| 2009 | Lorena Ochoa | 70.157 |
| 2008 | Lorena Ochoa | 69.699 |
| 2007 | Lorena Ochoa | 69.685 |
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa | 69.236 |
| 2005 | Annika Sorenstam | 69.329 |
| 2004 | Grace Park | 69.99 |
| 2003 | Se Ri Pak | 70.03 |
| 2002 | Annika Sorenstam | 68.697 |
| 2001 | Annika Sorenstam | 69.421 |
| 2000 | Karrie Webb | 70.049 |
| 1999 | Karrie Webb | 69.433 |
| 1998 | Annika Sorenstam | 69.987 |
| 1997 | Karrie Webb | 70.00 |
| 1996 | Annika Sorenstam | 70.47 |
| 1995 | Annika Sorenstam | 71.00 |
| 1994 | Beth Daniel | 70.904 |
| 1993 | Betsy King | 70.85 |
| 1992 | Dottie Pepper | 70.80 |
| 1991 | Pat Bradley | 70.66 |
| 1990 | Beth Daniel | 70.54 |
| 1989 | Beth Daniel | 70.38 |
| 1988 | Colleen Walker | 71.26 |
| 1987 | Betsy King | 71.14 |
| 1986 | Pat Bradley | 71.10 |
| 1985 | Nancy Lopez | 70.73 |
| 1984 | Patty Sheehan | 71.40 |
| 1983 | JoAnne Carner | 71.41 |
| 1982 | JoAnne Carner | 71.49 |
| 1981 | JoAnne Carner | 71.75 |
| 1980 | Amy Alcott | 71.51 |
| 1979 | Nancy Lopez | 71.20 |
| 1978 | Nancy Lopez | 71.76 |
| 1977 | Judy Rankin | 72.16 |
| 1976 | Judy Rankin | 72.25 |
| 1975 | JoAnne Carner | 72.40 |
| 1974 | JoAnne Carner | 72.87 |
| 1973 | Judy Rankin | 73.08 |
| 1972 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.38 |
| 1971 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.88 |
| 1970 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.26 |
| 1969 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.38 |
| 1968 | Carol Mann | 72.04 |
| 1967 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.74 |
| 1966 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.60 |
| 1965 | Kathy Whitworth | 72.61 |
| 1964 | Mickey Wright | 72.46 |
| 1963 | Mickey Wright | 72.81 |
| 1962 | Mickey Wright | 73.67 |
| 1961 | Mickey Wright | 73.55 |
| 1960 | Mickey Wright | 73.25 |
| 1959 | Betsy Rawls | 74.03 |
| 1958 | Beverly Hanson | 74.92 |
| 1957 | Louise Suggs | 74.64 |
| 1956 | Patty Berg | 74.57 |
| 1955 | Patty Berg | 74.47 |
| 1954 | Babe Zaharias | 75.48 |
| 1953 | Patty Berg | 75.00 |