Every time Lydia Ko wins, there are many statistics that display her quick ascent to the top of the golf world. She’s back to the No. 1 ranking in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and leads a majority of the LPGA’s statistical categories.
One thing you may not have to worry about is Ko acquiring as many tattoos (currently one) to match her LPGA wins (now at 10).
“This is my win for San Francisco, Swinging Skirts, that was my first win as an LPGA member on the LPGA,” said Ko, displaying her right wrist tattoo – IV-XXVII-XIV, depicting the date of April 27, 2014 when she won her first LPGA event as a member. “Obviously getting a lot of tattoos would not be the greatest role model; I don't know how much the Commissioner will like that. But you kind of get one and you want to get another one. But I don’t know if I’m going to get another one or not.”
Here are some other statistics that show Ko’s dominance:
- Ko hasn’t shot an over-par round in nearly three months, dating back to a second-round, 1-over-par 73 at St. Andrews in the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Since then, she has gone 26 consecutive rounds at par or better. Six of those rounds have been at even par and 17 of the last 20 have been in the 60s. Earlier this year, she compiled 29 consecutive rounds under par to tie Annika Sorenstam’s all-time mark and had 32 consecutive rounds under-par in competition (counting a win at the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open).
- Ko reached 10 career wins, beating Nancy Lopez by nearly 3 ½ years as the youngest players to to reach that level. The men’s youngest to reach 10 wins is Horton Smith, who won 10 times in 1928-29 and was just more than three years older than Ko.
- By reaching No. 1 again, Ko is second to herself as the youngest player, man or woman, to reach No. 1. She moved to No. 1 at age 17 years and nine months back in February for 19 consecutive weeks. She is now age 18 and six months. Park is the field in China this week after finishing tied for second on the Korean LPGA last year. Once again, the No. 1 spot will be up for grabs this week.
- Ko has won in Canada (twice), California (twice), Ohio, Florida, Australia, France and Taiwan on the LPGA.
- Ko’s last two wins have come by six strokes (Evian Championship) and nine (Fubon). Those are the third-leading and top margins of victory on the LPGA this season. Brooke Henderson won the Cambia Portland Classic by eight strokes.
Going home, sort of
Last week, Haruka Morita-WanyaoLu, 18, finished $284 out of a spot on the LPGA for 2016. She placed 11th on the Epson Tour money list, just behind No. 10 Rachel Rohanna.
This week, Morita-WanyaoLu is playing on the LPGA in China. Before the Chinese-Japanese golfer was even born, her parents represented China for table tennis in the National Athletic Meet in Japan – her mother as a player and her father as a coach. They opted to remain in Japan, settling eventually in the port city of Takamatsu City, where Haruka was born and learned to play golf. Therefore, the origin of her lengthy name – Haruka Morita is her Japanese name and Wanyao Lu her Chinese moniker. She still plays under the Chinese flag because she cannot become a naturalized Japanese citizen until age 21 even though her first language is Japanese.
Last fall, when she was an amateur, Morita-WanyaoLu made her LPGA debut in the inaugural Blue Bay LPGA, played on Hainan Island, China. As a Japan Golf Association National team member and the winner of the 2013 Japan Women’s Amateur, she found her comfort zone among the game’s top players and was the low amateur in the field. She was paired with fellow teen Lydia Ko in one round and finished tied for 17th at 6-under par.
Morita-WanyaoLu competed in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament as amateur last year to earn a spot on the Epson Tour. Her American base is in Orlando at Orange Tree Golf Club.
The month of Korda
October has been quite a month for the Korda sisters.
Jessica won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia on Oct. 11. Since the start of September, Korda, age 22, is the oldest winner of an LPGA event since the other winners have been Lydia Ko (18) and Lexi Thompson (20).
Her younger sister, Nelly, 17, captured an American Junior Golf Association event by 11 strokes and was the medalist at the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament last week. Since she won’t turn 18 until next July, Korda is focused on playing the Epson Tour next year.
The Malaysia victory and Nelly’s win at the qualifier were both followed by trips to see the grandparents in the Czech Republic.
Etc.
This week’s tournament in China offers another early morning/late night viewing opportunity on the Golf Channel for Eastern U.S. viewers: Thursday and Friday, 2:30-6 a.m.; Saturday, 8-10:30 a.m.; and Sunday, 8 p.m.-midnight. … Alison Walshe was the second alternate last week before an 11th-hour wakeup call in Florida alerted her that she was in the field in Taiwan. A 24-hour trip allowed her to make it the evening before, she finished 75th and won $3,838. That allowed Walshe to move from 83rd to 82nd on the money list (now $120,018) and remain 88th in the Race to the CME Globe. … The top 72 and ties from the Race to the CME Globe points standings through the previous week’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational will qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship in mid-November. Also, those who have won one tournament during the season and non-members who have won qualify.
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