Lydia Ko Has Neared LPGA Career Earnings Record
Lydia Ko is poised to surpass Annika Sorenstam as the all-time leading money winner on the LPGA Tour this weekend.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Golf
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Lydia Ko trails Annika Sorenstam in total official LPGA prize money by $223,228. Ko has the opportunity to claim the record at the Lotte Championship, where the total purse is $3 million.
Why it matters
Recent increases in overall prize money payouts across the LPGA Tour have accelerated the rate at which top players accumulate career earnings. This surge has made historical records previously held for decades vulnerable to being broken in modern competition.
Annika Sorenstam has held the top spot since May 6, 2001, with total earnings of $22,583,693 over 308 events. Lydia Ko has competed in 278 events and currently trails that benchmark by $223,228, needing a two-way tie for second or better to overtake her.
The players
Lydia Ko
She is a professional golfer who has won 23 LPGA titles and is nearing the all-time career earnings record.
Annika Sorenstam
She is a legendary golfer who has held the LPGA all-time leading money record since May 2001.
Nelly Korda
She is a professional golfer currently competing on the LPGA Tour who is also closing in on career earnings records.
Scottie Scheffler
He is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour who surpassed Tiger Woods on the all-time money list in August 2026.
Tiger Woods
He is a prominent professional golfer who previously held the PGA Tour all-time money record for over two decades.
The details
Lydia Ko has accumulated 23 LPGA titles over her career and is now on the verge of overtaking Sorenstam, who set the previous record over two decades ago. While Ko chases the record in Hawaii, fellow competitor Nelly Korda also approaches the threshold, trailing the all-time leader by $253,921.
Timeline
May 6, 2001: Annika Sorenstam initially took the top spot on the money list.
August 2026: Scottie Scheffler surpassed Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour money list.
This weekend: Lydia Ko may potentially break the all-time LPGA money record.
November 2026: Nelly Korda makes her next tournament start at The Annika.
Season Trajectory
This potential record-breaking performance follows the pattern established by the PGA Tour all-time money list shift in August 2026. It reflects a broader shift where rising prize purses are rapidly updating historical earnings benchmarks across professional golf.
Ko needs a two-way tie for second place or better at the $3 million Lotte Championship to officially pass Sorenstam this weekend. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda remains within striking distance of the record, sitting $253,921 behind Sorenstam with upcoming starts scheduled in November.
The takeaway
The rise in total prize money has redefined the speed at which golfers reach all-time earnings milestones. Fans should monitor major tournament purses as these increasing financial incentives continue to reshape historical statistical records.
Further reading
For more on the current standing of tour professionals, visit Golf.
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Do you think larger prize purses diminish the prestige of historic all-time earnings records?
