Lilia Vu seized control early on Sunday at The Annika, firing a 4-under 66 to claim her fourth win of the season. The victory not only returned her to the No. 1 ranking but also brought her closer to the LPGA Player of the Year award. Vu began her final round at Pelican Golf Club trailing Emily Kristine Pedersen by three shots, but she quickly closed the gap with three birdies in six holes before pulling ahead with an impeccable display of approach play. Having already won the Women's British Open and the Chevron Championship, Vu is nearly guaranteed to be recognized as the tour's top player. Her win also marks a milestone for US golf, as Stacy Lewis was the last American to claim this title in 2014.
Lilia Vu took the momentum early with three birdies and closed with a 4-under 66 to win The Annika on Sunday, her fourth victory of the year, regaining the No. 1 ranking and closing in on LPGA player of the year. American Vu began the final round at Pelican Golf Club three strokes behind Emily Kristine Pedersen, made three birdies in six holes, and then drew away with flawless approach shots that set up back-to-back birdies. Vu is almost certain to earn additional honors as the LPGA’s top player. Her two major victories came at the Chevron Championship and the Women’s British Open. Stacy Lewis, a former UCLA player, was the last American to win the trophy in 2014.
In the points race for LPGA Player of the Year, 26-year-old Vu was trailing four-time winner Celine Boutier by a slim three-point margin. However, Boutier's failure to make the cut this weekend shifted the momentum. Vu now enters the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship with a 27-point lead. The only path to victory for the 30-year-old Boutier now is to win the next tournament while Vu finishes eighth or worse. It was a heartbreaking conclusion for Pedersen, who went from chasing her first career LPGA title to seeing her season come to an abrupt end.
It wasn't just the lack of birdies that hurt Pedersen; she actually had a fair chance to climb from 80th to 60th in the Race to CME Globe, which would have secured her a spot in the finale in Naples. However, a disastrous double bogey on her final hole resulted in a 74, ultimately pushing her out of the top 60.
Swedish player Madelene Sagstrom had missed the cut and seemed destined to fall out of the top 60, especially after Australia's Stephanie Kyriacou shot a 67 to tie for fifth. But Pedersen's late double bogey unexpectedly opened the door for Sagstrom to advance. Although Boutier remains first in the rankings despite missing the cut and Vu's victory, that position is currently secondary. To secure the $2 million prize, the top 60 players must now compete in the CME Group Tour Championship next week.
Despite being eligible for maternity leave, Munoz entered the tournament ranked 100th in the Race to CME Globe, fighting to break into the top 80 to guarantee her place in the season finale—a goal she narrowly missed. Meanwhile, Patty Tavatanakit had a difficult final round, but a late birdie gave her just enough of a lead to survive a final-hole bogey and maintain her spot in the top 60.