NAPLES, Fla. – On the eve of the biggest payday in the history of women’s golf – $1.5 million – we take a look at the LPGA’s most lucrative seasons. Not even a victory tomorrow from Jin Young Ko would top Lorena Ochoa’s 2007 season, when the World Golf Hall of Famer won eight tournaments and finished second five times. Ochoa banked $4,364,994 that year, the most of any player in LPGA history.
Yani Tseng came the closest to Ochoa in 2011, when she earned $2,921,713. Tseng triumphed seven times that year, winning two major titles and finishing runner-up twice.
Ko, the 2019 Rolex LPGA Player of the Year, came into the final event with $2,714,281. While she can’t catch Ochoa, a second-place finish at the CME would make Ko the second player to break the $3 million mark. A victory would get her to $4,214,281.
Ko won two majors this season and has a chance to join Annika Sorenstam as the only players in LPGA history to break 69 in scoring. The World No. 1 surged up the leaderboard on Saturday with a 66. Second place at the CME gets a $480,000 paycheck.
Annika Sorenstam ranks third on the all-time list with $2,863,904 in 2002. She won 11 times that year and finished runner-up on three occasions.
Mickey Wright owns the LPGA record for most wins in a season. She won 13 times in 1963 and earned $31,269.
And what about Nancy Lopez’s incredible 1978 rookie season, when she won nine times? She collected $189,814 for her efforts that year.
Take a look at the LPGA’s annual money leaders throughout the years.
LPGA annual money leaders
| Rank | Year | Player | Money |
| 1 | 2007 | Lorena Ochoa | $4,364,994 |
| 2 | 2011 | Yani Tseng | $2,921,713 |
| 3 | 2002 | Annika Sorenstam | $2,863,904 |
| 4 | 2015 | Lydia Ko | $2,800,802 |
| 5 | 2008 | Lorena Ochoa | $2,763,193 |
| 6 | 2018 | Ariya Jutanugarn | $2,743,949 |
| 7 | 2006 | Lorena Ochoa | $2,592,872 |
| 8 | 2005 | Annika Sorenstam | $2,588,872 |
| 9 | 2016 | Ariya Jutanugarn | $2,550,947 |
| 10 | 2004 | Annika Sorenstam | $2,544,707 |
| 11 | 2014 | Stacy Lewis | $2,539,039 |
| 12 | 2013 | Inbee Park | $2,456,619 |
| 13 | 2017 | Sung Hyun Park | $2,335,883 |
| 14 | 2012 | Inbee Park | $2,287,080 |
| 15 | 2001 | Annika Sorenstam | $2,105,868 |
| 16 | 2003 | Annika Sorenstam | $2,029,506 |
| 17 | 2000 | Karrie Webb | $1,876,853 |
| 18 | 2010 | Na Yeon Choi | $1,871,165 |
| 19 | 2009 | Jiyai Shin | $1,807,334 |
| 20 | 1999 | Karrie Webb | $1,591,959 |
| 21 | 1997 | Annika Sorenstam | $1,236,789 |
| 22 | 1998 | Annika Sorenstam | $1,092,748 |
| 23 | 1996 | Karrie Webb | $1,002,000 |
| 24 | 1990 | Beth Daniel | $863,578 |
| 25 | 1991 | Pat Bradley | $763,118 |
| 26 | 1992 | Dottie Mochrie (Pepper) | $693,335 |
| 27 | 1994 | Laura Davies | $687,201 |
| 28 | 1995 | Annika Sorenstam | $666,533 |
| 29 | 1989 | Betsy King | $654,132 |
| 30 | 1993 | Betsy King | $595,992 |
| 31 | 1986 | Pat Bradley | $492,021 |
| 32 | 1987 | Ayako Okamoto | $466,034 |
| 33 | 1985 | Nancy Lopez | $416,472 |
| 34 | 1988 | Sherri Turner | $350,851 |
| 35 | 1982 | JoAnne Carner | $310,400 |
| 36 | 1983 | JoAnne Carner | $291,404 |
| 37 | 1984 | Betsy King | $266,771 |
| 38 | 1980 | Beth Daniel | $231,000 |
| 39 | 1981 | Beth Daniel | $206,998 |
| 40 | 1979 | Nancy Lopez | $197,489 |
| 41 | 1978 | Nancy Lopez | $189,814 |
| 42 | 1976 | Judy Rankin | $150,734 |
| 43 | 1977 | Judy Rankin | $122,890 |
| 44 | 1974 | JoAnne Carner | $87,094 |
| 45 | 1973 | Kathy Whitworth | $82,864 |
| 46 | 1975 | Sandra Palmer | $76,374 |
| 47 | 1972 | Kathy Whitworth | $65,063 |
| 48 | 1969 | Carol Mann | $49,152 |
| 49 | 1968 | Kathy Whitworth | $48,379 |
| 50 | 1971 | Kathy Whitworth | $41,181 |
| 51 | 1966 | Kathy Whitworth | $33,517 |
| 52 | 1967 | Kathy Whitworth | $32,937 |
| 53 | 1963 | Mickey Wright | $31,269 |
| 54 | 1970 | Kathy Whitworth | $30,235 |
| 55 | 1964 | Mickey Wright | $29,800 |
| 56 | 1965 | Kathy Whitworth | $28,658 |
| 57 | 1959 | Betsy Rawls | $26,774 |
| 58 | 1961 | Mickey Wright | $22,236 |
| 59 | 1962 | Mickey Wright | $21,641 |
| 60 | 1956 | Marlene Hagge | $20,235 |
| 61 | 1953 | Louise Suggs | $19,816 |
| 62 | 1960 | Louise Suggs | $16,892 |
| 63 | 1955 | Patty Berg | $16,492 |
| 64 | 1957 | Patty Berg | $16,272 |
| 65 | 1954 | Patty Berg | $16,011 |
| 66 | 1951 | Babe Zaharias | $15,087 |
| 67 | 1950 | Babe Zaharias | $14,800 |
| 68 | 1952 | Betsy Rawls | $14,505 |
| 69 | 1958 | Beverly Hanson | $12,639 |
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