Auckland, New Zealand
2024
20
2
2014 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, two-time Rolex Player of the Year (2015, 2022), two-time Vare Trophy recipient (2021, 2022), three-time Race to the CME Globe champion (2014, 2015, 2022)
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Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Lydia Ko burst onto the scene in 2012 when, as an amateur, she became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history with her victory at the CPKC Women’s Open at 15 years, 4 months and 2 days. She successfully defended her title a year later at the 2013 CPKC Women’s Open and then turned professional in October 2013, joining the LPGA Tour in 2014 after being granted membership by then-LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.
Ko became the youngest player to win the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award in 2014 after winning three tournaments in her debut season, including the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, and becoming the 2014 Race to the CME Globe champion in its first rendition.
Her sophomore season on the LPGA Tour saw Ko ascend to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for the first time, becoming the youngest player, male or female, to reach world No. 1. Ko captured five victories in 2015, one of which was The Amundi Evian Championship, her first major title, and she earned Rolex Player of the Year honors that same season, the youngest player ever to do so. Additionally, Ko won the Race to the CME Globe and was the leading money on the LPGA Tour in 2015.
The next season, Ko picked up her second major victory at The Chevron Championship, becoming the youngest female to win two major championships at 18 years, 11 months and 9 days. She was the second youngest golfer, male or female, to win two major championships behind Young Tom Morris. She also participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics that same year, ultimately earning the silver medal while her fellow LPGA Hall of Fame member Inbee Park won the gold.
Following a winless season in 2017, Ko picked up her 15th LPGA Tour title at the 2018 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, not winning again until the 2021 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei. She represented New Zealand for a second time at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, taking home the bronze medal after a playoff with silver medalist Mone Inami.
The 2022 season saw Ko collect three victories, including the CME Group Tour Championship, and earn Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors. Her win at Tiburón Golf Club also gave Ko her second Race to the CME Globe title. She won the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational alongside her playing partner and PGA Tour member Jason Day in 2023, an unofficial victory.
Ko won the first event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, defeating Alexa Pano by two shots at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions to capture her 20th LPGA Tour victory and earn her 26th LPGA Hall of Fame point. She became the seventh woman to win 20 times before the age of 27 and the 29th player in LPGA Tour history to win at least 20 events.
The LPGA Hall of Fame continued to elude Ko until she completed the medal trifecta at the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking gold at Le Golf National to go along with her silver and bronze medals that she captured at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, respectively. The gold medal earned Ko the 27th point necessary for qualification into the LPGA Hall of Fame, and she became the first player since Lorena Ochoa and nine of the 13 LPGA Founders in 2022 to be inducted.
Ko holds numerous LPGA Tour records, including the fastest player to reach $3 million, $4 million, $5 million, $6 million, $7 million, $8 million and $9 million in career earnings records as well as the youngest player to reach $1 million and $2 million in career earnings. She is also the youngest player ever to reach 10 wins, doing so at 18 years, 6 months and 1 day.
ESPN+ will stream live featured group coverage of the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship, an event in its inaugural year on the LPGA Tour. Featured Groups coverage starts at approximately 8 a.m. ET, from TPC Boston in Norton, Mass. Click Here to Watch on ESPN+
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