Teen golf sensation Lydia Ko turns professional
The 16-year-old New Zealander, who has already won four events on the pro tour, will play for money for the first time at a tournament in Florida next month
New Zealand golf prodigy Lydia Ko confirmed on Wednesday she has turned professional and plans to make her debut in the paid ranks at next month’s season-ending LPGA Tour event in Florida.
The 16-year-old has fielded speculation about when she will renounce her amateur status since becoming the youngest-ever winner of a professional golf tour event in 2012, when she claimed the New South Wales Open in Australia at the age of 14.
Ko is already fourth in the LPGA rankings and has won four professional events, although she was unable to collect more than US$2 million in prize money and millions more in endorsements because she is an amateur.
Her amateur record ranks right up there among the greats of the game
She needed a special dispensation from the LPGA to turn professional, as it usually restricts membership to golfers aged 18 and over.
The Korean-born sensation announced her decision on social media, tweeting: “Made a monumental decision today”, along with a link to a video of her playing golf with All Black rugby star Israel Dagg.
“I’ll do it – turn pro,” she said in the video, adding: “I’m hoping to play a tournament in Florida in mid-November as a professional.”
