Sahalee Trophy

Lydia Ko

New Zealand
New Zealand
lydia ko.png
lydia ko.png

Lydia Ko

New Zealand
New Zealand
World Ranking
15
Age
27
Turned Pro
2014
Hometown
Seoul, South Korea
Height
5 ft 7 in

Bio

LPGA Tour Victories (20 wins, 2 majors)

  • 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open*
  • 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open*
  • 2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning & O-I, CME Group Tour Championship
  • 2015 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC, Canadian Pacific Women's Open, The Evian Championship, Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship
  • 2016 Kia Classic, ANA Inspiration, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I
  • 2018 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
  • 2021 LOTTE Championship
  • 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, BMW Ladies Championship, CME Group Tour Championship
  • 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational with playing partner PGA Tour member Jason Day**
  • 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions

*as an amateur and non-member

**unofficial event

LPGA Awards

  • 2014 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year (Youngest-Ever Winner), Race to CME Globe Winner
  • 2015 Rolex Player of the Year (Youngest-Ever Winner), Race to CME Globe Winner, Tour Money Winner
  • 2021 Founders Award, Vare Trophy
  • 2022 Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy, Race to CME Globe Winner

Olympics (2)

  • 2016 Rio Olympics (2nd - Silver Medalist)
  • 2020 Tokyo Olympics (3rd - Bronze Medalist)

2023 in a Nutshell

  • 20 events, 16 cuts made, $247,335 (90)
  • Recorded two top-10 finishes including a season-best third place result at the BMW Ladies Championship
  • Winner of the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational with playing partner PGA TOUR member Jason Day

Career Highlights:

2022:

  • 22 events, 22 cuts made, $4,364,403 (1)
  • Recorded 14 top-10 finishes including wins at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, BMW Ladies Championship, CME Group Tour Championship
  • Earned Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors
  • Won the Race to the CME Globe

2021:

  • 20 events, 19 cuts made, $1,530,629 (5)
  • Recorded 11 top-10 finishes including a win at the LOTTE Championship
  • Represented New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics

2020:

  • 13 events, 12 cuts made, $677,545 (9)
  • Captured a season-best result of T2 at the Marathon LPGA Classic, one of five top-10 performances

2019:

  • 24 events, 21 cuts made, $444,256 (48)
  • Recorded four top-10 finishes
  • Crossed the $10 million mark in career earnings with a T6 finish at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, becoming the 17th player in LPGA history as of 2019 to earn at least $10 million
  • Recorded her second ace at the U.S. Women's Open

2018:

  • 26 events, 24 cuts made, $1,118,180 (12)
  • Won the 2018 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship for her first LPGA victory since the 2016 Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I
  • Took home more than $1 million in season earnings for the fifth consecutive year in 2018
  • Became the fastest player in LPGA history to cross the $9 million earnings threshold with her third-place finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give

2017:

  • 26 events, 23 cuts made, $1,177,450 (13)
  • Recorded 11 top-10 finishes, including three runner-ups, in her first winless season on the LPGA Tour
  • Took home more than $1 million in season earning for the fourth-straight year

2016:

  • 24 events, 24 cuts made, $2,493,059 (2)
  • Racked up four victories including her second major championship at the ANA Inspiration and tallied 10 additional top-10 finishes including three runner-ups
  • Became youngest female ever to win two major championships (18y/11m/9d) and second youngest golfer (male or female) to two major wins behind Young Tom Morris after he won the 1869 Open Championship
  • One of three players to win back-to-back tournaments (Kia Classic, ANA Inspiration)
  • Shot a career-low 62 twice

2015:

  • 24 events, 23 cuts made, $2,800,802 (1)
  • Captured five victories on the season - ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC, Canadian Pacific Women's Open, The Evian Championship, and Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship
  • Won the second consecutive Race to the CME Globe, taking home the $1 million bonus
  • Captured the 2015 Rolex Player of the Year Award
  • Became the youngest player, male or female, to reach No. 1 in the world
  • Added 12 additional top-10 finishes, including three runner-up finishes

2014:

  • 26 events, 26 cuts made, $2,089,033 (3)
  • Captured three victories on the season - CME Group Tour Championship, Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning & O-I and Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic
  • Won the inaugural Race to the CME Globe, taking home the $1 million bonus
  • Named the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, the youngest winner in the history of the award
  • Became the youngest player to surpass $1 million and $2 million in career earnings
  • Added 12 additional top-10 finishes, including a pair of runner-up finishes

2013:

  • Turned professional in October 2013 and was granted membership for the 2014 season by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.
  • Two months after turning professional, won her first event as a pro at the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (KLPGA)
  • 12 events, 12 cuts made, 1 victory, 5 additional top-10 finishes
  • Earned her second-career victory when she defended her title at the CN Canadian Women's Open

Amateur:

  • Won four professional tournaments in her amateur career (2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open & 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open (LPGA), 2013 ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open (LET & ALPG) and 2012 Bing Lee Samsung Women’s NSW Open (ALPG).
  • Played in 16 LPGA Tour events in the 2012 and 2013 seasons and did not miss a cut.
  • Was the fifth amateur winner in LPGA history and first since 1967; first amateur to win twice.
  • Became the youngest winner in Ladies European Tour (LET) history on Feb. 10, 2013 at the 54-hole ISPS Handa Women’s New Zealand Open.
  • Became the youngest winner in LPGA history on Aug. 19, 2012 at the 72-hole CN Canadian Women’s Open at the age of 15 years, 4 months, 2 days.
  • In the 2012 and 2013 seasons, earned low amateur honors at six LPGA Tour major championships
  • Won the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur (second youngest winner in history) and Australian Women’s Amateur; medalist at the World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey.
  • Won the 2011 Australian Women’s Amateur Strokeplay, New Zealand Women’s Amateur Strokeplay, New Zealand Women’s Amateur Match Play.

Personal:

  • 5’5”
  • Started playing golf at the age of 5.
  • Credits her parents as the individuals most influencing her career.
  • Enjoys going to the movies and reading.

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