South Korea-Born Lydia Ko Is The Youngest Golfer To Win Major Title At The LPGA Tour Evian Championship
18-year-old Lydia Ko set a new record as the youngest golfer to win a major title in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Ko, currently representing New Zealand, bagged a major win at the Evian Championship in France last Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Chounilbo noted on Monday that altough Ko carries eight career LPGA Tour titles under her belt, this recent victory is her first ever major title. Prior to Ko, Morgan Pressel held the record for the youngest major title holder in 2007 when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Her recent victory tops her growing list of achievements which includes youngest LPGA Tour title winner at 15 years of age, youngest person to win a prize money of $1 million at 17 years of age and the youngest world number one at 17 years of age.
Ko was also reportedly the youngest winner at the Canadian Women's Open in 2012.
New York Times reported on Sunday that Ko's win was led by two birdied holes on the shores of Lake Geneva, ending with an eight-under-par 63 for a six-stroke victory and shooting 16-under 268 at the season finale of Evian Championship against Lexi Thompson. Ko was also awarded $487,500 in prize money.
"To say that I'm the youngest in history for now, it's so cool," said Ko. "To finish with two birdies, finish on the last, 72nd hole with a birdie - it doesn't happen often, so it's definitely one of the top rounds of my whole entire life, and I'm sure it will be in my career."
"Everyone won't be asking me when I'll win my first major, because it's done," added Ko.
Lydia Ko's competitor Lexi Thompson set the bar high early in the game with four birdies in her first seven holes with a three-hole stretch in three under from holes five to seven.
"It's kind of hard to beat somebody that shoots 63," Thompson said regarding her opponent Ko. "She played amazing. She deserves it. She ball-struck the heck out of this golf course and putted it really well. You can't get much better than that."