The wait is over for Ryann O'Toole. Well, at least when it comes to the biggest check of her career. The 39-year-old O'Toole has clinched the Aon Risk Reward Challenge and the $1 million prize that comes with it. The fact that O'Toole bagged the life-changing paycheck while on maternity leave is feat that will likely never be matched. She and partner Gina are due to welcome their first child, a boy, in January.
“It’s like winning three tournaments or a major,” she gushed of the possibility to Golfweek several weeks ago. “It’s unbelievable.”
The Aon Risk Reward Challenge is a season-long competition that rewards a sound strategy and execution on designated par 4s and par 5s throughout the season.
O'Toole took the lead in the standings over the middle
of the summer and went on maternity leave after her 14th start to the season. It made more sense to sit on her lead at that point as golf became more difficult further along in her pregnancy. Her last event was the FM Championship in late August when she met the minimum requirement of rounds for the Aon race.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, O'Toole's par-5 ranking this season, 11th, is the highest it has been in her 16-year career. Last year she ranked 125th in the same category. She ranks T-9 in total eagles for the season and hit 21 of 24 greens on the holes that counted toward her score. That 87.5 percent average is miles ahead of where she stands overall on the season in GIR at 65.5 percent.
Last year's champion, Jeeno Thitikul, finished runner-up to O'Toole in the Aon standings. Sei Young Kim finished third.
For 15 years, O’Toole has been one of the fittest players on tour, and coming into the 2026 season, she pushed herself as hard as ever. At the start of the season, she picked up 7 to 8 yards with driver and up to 9 yards more with 3-wood. The combination surely helped provide more opportunities for a contest that rewards strategic risk.
“It’s fun being 39, and I can still move it,” she said.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf. Follow her on X/Twitter (@GolfweekNichols).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA's Ryann O'Toole clinches $1 million Aon prize while on maternity leave
