Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn has the grit and gumption to vouch for. Now, the talented Golfer has won the 2018 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which recognizes the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships during the current LPGA Tour season.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                Ariya with Annika Sorenstam

 

 

Ariya received the honour thanks to her win at the U.S. Women’s Open, her second career major championship victory, and tied for fourth place at the ANA Inspiration and the Ricoh Women’s British Open. The 22-year-old, who joins Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016) and So Yeon Ryu (2017) as winners of the prestigious award, was recognized in a ceremony on the 18th green at The Evian Championship, concluding an exciting season of majors in 2018.

 

 

 

"I feel great, I feel really honour to join the list of winners because of all the big names," said Ariya. "I watch Annika since I was young. She is my idol as always. I'm really like, 'Look how she is doing?' And I really want to follow her footsteps. She inspires me a lot. And I really want to thank her for like all the great everything for the LPGA. It's amazing for me.

 

 

 

"Points for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award are awarded at all five major championships to competitors who finish among the top 10 and ties. To take home the award, a player must also win at least one of the five majors.

 

 

 

 

 

Pernilla Lindberg (ANA Inspiration), Sung Hyun Park (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Georgia Hall (Ricoh Women’s British Open) and Angela Stanford (The Evian Championship) were the other players to qualify this season. Heading into The Evian Championship, six players were still in the running for the 2018 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award but Sung Hyun Park dropped out of contention for the honour when she missed the cut on Friday.

 

 

That left RAMA standings leader Jutanugarn, Lindberg, Hall, Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu to vie for the award over the last two rounds at Evian Resort Golf Club. Ariya has enjoyed one of the best campaigns of her LPGA career this year.