NAPLES, Fla., November 23, 2014 – Stacy Lewis wrapped up an impressive 2014 season in style sweeping the LPGA’s three most prestigious honors -- Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy and LPGA Official Money List title. Lewis becomes the first American to take home all three awards since Betsy King in 1993 and the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011.
“That’s what I came here for,” Lewis said. “I went into the week wanting to win these three awards. The $1 million and all would’ve been nice, but I would take these three over $1 million any day.”
“I am just really proud of the way I played,” Lewis continued. “I didn’t have my best stuff all week. Even today just had to kind of grind it out and make a few putts there at the end, which I did. But it’s just amazing. I just feel like a ton of weight has just been lifted off my shoulders.”
Lewis held off a late-season charge from Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park to claim the three awards. She entered this week’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship leading Park by just three points in the Rolex Player of the Year race and by less than a tenth of a stroke in the hunt for the Vare Trophy, which is awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average on Tour. Lewis wrapped up the award with a solid CME Group Tour Championship where she finished in a tie for ninth at 4-under par.
The No. 2 player currently in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Lewis had an impressive 2014 season with three victories (North Texas LPGA Shootout, ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by P&G and Walmart NW Arkansas Championship) and 15 additional top-10 finishes. She ended the season leading the Tour in three statistical categories including birdies, rounds in the 60s and rounds under par.
“I have some goals. I never write them down, but I kind of have them in the back of my head that I had won Player of the Year, I had won Vare Trophy, but I wanted to win the Money List at some point. I thought it would be pretty cool if I could do all three together,” Lewis said. “So it’s amazing. And the coolest part to me is I get to be on the trophies with some pretty amazing women, you know, and be a part of history.”
The Arkansas grad also won the Rolex Player of the Year award in 2012 when she became the first American to capture the award since Beth Daniel in 1994. Lewis will now have her name in the record books as one of 12 players to have won Player of the Year on multiple occasions.
Lewis repeated as the Vare Trophy winner after capturing the award with a 69.48 average last season. Lewis is the 11th player to win the award in consecutive seasons. Lewis earned the Vare Trophy with a 69.532 scor- ing average fueled by an LPGA-best 50 rounds in the 60s.
LPGA Players with Multiple Rolex Player of the Year Awards
Stacy Lewis – 2012, 2014
Yani Tseng – 2010, 2011
Lorena Ochoa – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Annika Sorenstam – 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Karrie Webb – 1999, 2000
Beth Daniel – 1980, 1990, 1994
Betsy King – 1993, 1989, 1984
Pat Bradley – 1991, 1986
Nancy Lopez – 1988, 1985, 1979, 1978
JoAnne Carner – 1982, 1981, 1974
Judy Rankin – 1977, 1976
Kathy Whitworth – 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966
LPGA Players to Win Vare Trophy in Consecutive Seasons
Stacy Lewis – 2013-14 Lorena Ochoa – 2006-09 Karrie Webb – 1999-2000
Annika Sorenstam – 1995-96, 2001-02 Beth Daniel – 1989-90
Nancy Lopez – 1978-79 Judy Rankin – 1976-77
JoAnne Carner – 1974-75, 1981-83
Kathy Whitworth – 1965-67, 1969-72 Mickey Wright – 1960-64
Patty Berg – 1955-56