LPGA Founders Cup star Yealimi Noh delivers heart-wrenching message on 'sacrifice' following big first career win

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Yealimi Noh has claimed the 2025 Founders Cup, marking her first LPGA Tour win. In a post-tournament press conference, the American professional golfer shared a heartwarming message about how her parents’ sacrifices have contributed to her wins on and off the course.

The 23-year-old Noh turned pro in 2019 and joined the LPGA Tour in 2020. She has 14 top-10 and 33 top-25 finishes and was selected as the captain’s pick for Team USA for the Solheim Cup in 2021.

The 2025 Founders Cup winner was asked how she felt about playing and winning the tournament with her family in attendance. She responded:

"Oh yeah, my parents are, I mean, they’re amazing. They’ve been with me like every single day, not only on the golf course, but my whole life, and they’ve sacrificed so much for me, and it’s amazing to have them both here and they… I mean, they have done so much for me.”

The 2025 Founders Cup presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands took place from February 6 - 9 in Bradenton, Florida. This year’s champion, Yealimi Noh, beat 15-time LPGA Tour winner Jin Young Ko by four strokes.

In the final round, Noh made two birdies, boosting her to 21 under, while Ko made her second consecutive bogey, drawing her to 18 under. This put Noh three shots ahead of Ko, who made another bogey on 16. With the pressure off, Yealimi Noh shot a three-under 68 and claimed the winner’s title with three birdies and no bogeys.

During the tournament, Yealimi Noh competed against other LPGA Tour stars, including Hannah Green, Megan Khang, and World No. 1 Nelly Korda. Khang came in third place, while Green tied for fourth with Jin-Hee Im and Miyu Yamashita.

How much did Yealimi Noh win for her 2025 Founders Cup victory?

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The 2025 Founders Cup had a total purse of $2 million, $1 million less than last year’s. Yealimi Noh won the winner’s share of $300,000, while runner-up Ko took home $187,584.

Of the 120 players who teed off at Bradenton Country Club, 67 left with a share of the prize money. Here’s a full breakdown of the 2025 Founders Cup Prize Money payout:

1 Yealimi Noh: $300,000
2 Jin Young Ko: $187,584
3 Megan Khang: $136,079
T4 Miyu Yamashita: $86,440
T4 Hannah Green: $86,440
T4 Jin Hee Im: $86,440
T7 Celine Boutier: $51,522
T7 Minami Katsu: $51,522
T7 Nelly Korda: $51,522
10 Angel Yin: $41,594
T11 Nasa Hataoka: $37,228
T11 Ashleigh Buhai: $37,228
T13 Jeongeun Lee6: $29,235
T13 Albane Valenzuela: $29,235
T13 Somi Lee: $29,235
T13 Lexi Thompson: $29,235
T13 Ayaka Furue: $29,235
T13 Nanna Koerstz Madsen: $29,235
T19 Leona Maguire: $23,210
T19 Charley Hull: $23,210
T19 Paula Reto: $23,210
T19 Lauren Coughlin: $23,210
T23 Allisen Corpuz: $19,637
T23 Yuri Yoshida: $19,637
T23 Dewi Weber: $19,637
T23 Benedetta Moresco: $19,637
T23 Sarah Schmelzel: $19,637
T28 Kristen Gillman: $15,833
T28 Minjee Lee: $15,833
T28 Hyo Joo Kim: $15,833
T28 Morgane Metraux: $15,833
T28 Mary Liu: $15,833
T28 Mao Saigo: $15,833
T34 Gigi Stoll: $12,632
T34 Aditi Ashok: $12,632
T34 Kate Smith-Stroh: $12,632
T34 Alena Sharp: $12,632
T34 Jennifer Kupcho: $12,632
T39 Gabriela Ruffels: $10,065
T39 Soo Bin Joo: $10,065
T39 Linnea Strom: $10,065
T39 Gurleen Kaur: $10,065
T39 Nataliya Guseva: $10,065
T39 Gemma Dryburgh: $10,065
T45 Emily Kristine Pedersen: $8,421
T45 Elizabeth Szokol: $8,421
T45 Rio Takeda: $8,421
T48 Xiaowen Yin: $6,919
T48 Mi Hyang Lee: $6,919
T48 Ariya Jutanugarn: $6,919
T48 Lydia Ko: $6,919
T48 Fiona Xu: $6,919
T48 Stephanie Kyriacou: $6,919
T48 Wei-Ling Hsu: $6,919
T48 Moriya Jutanugarn: $6,919
T56 Jiwon Jeon: $5,854
T56 Hira Naveed: $5,854
58 Madison Young: $5,545
T59 Caroline Inglis: $5,170
T59 Yuka Saso: $5,170
T59 Sophia Popov: $5,170
T62 Yan Liu: $4,775
T62 Frida Kinhult: $4,775
T62 Gaby Lopez: $4,775
T62 Ssu-Chia Cheng: $4,775
66 Hyo Joon Jang: $4,519
67 Hinako Shibuno: $4,417

Edited by Rupesh Kumar