Ariya Jutanugarn finished her season in style by tying for fourth place on Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida , clinching the season-long Race to CME Globe points competition and its US$1 million bonus . She also won player of the year for the first time, overtaking Lydia Ko as both the Globe winner and the year’s top player.
Ko would have become player of the year had she claimed victory on Sunday but she finished 8 shots behind first-time winner Charley Hull. The New Zealand superstar hugged the young Thai as she sportingly offered her congratulations.
It was the first time in three years that Ko had not won the Race to CME Globe competition and it capped a remarkable year for Ariya.