Lydia Ko, who won her first LPGA tour event at just 15 years old, ended her peak season with a championship in Florida. The prize money was the largest ever in women’s golf at two million dollars.
New Zealand Lydia Ko25, won the Tour Championship on Sunday in Naples, Florida.
The winner, who played a great combined score of -17, got to enjoy the biggest prize pool ever in women’s golf, a check for two million dollars. Ko also received LPGA Tour Player of the Year honors with her third win of the season. Her strokes per round average was the lowest on the LPGA Tour this season at 68.988.
Earlier this season, the victory in his native South Korea was an emotional moment for Kole. The victory in the final tournament, on the other hand, crowned the best season of his career.
– This year has been incredible. I couldn’t have wished for more, Ko rejoiced.
Ko earned as much as 4.3 million US dollars (4.19 million euros) in prize money this season and only had 591 dollars (575 euros) left. Lorena Ochoan from the single season record pot.
The LPGA’s final tournament victory is Kolle’s third in her career. At the time of his first victory in 2014, Ko was only a 17-year-old teenage star and already on his way to becoming a golf superstar.
– I am happy that the winning photo of 2014, in which I was wearing glasses, can finally be updated, Ko said.
The LPGA made a photo compilation of Ko’s winning poses in 2014, 2015 and 2022.
After Sunday’s victory, the Olympic silver and bronze medalist is already close to being selected for the LPGA’s gallery of honor. Ko has won no fewer than 19 LPGA events in her career. She won her first at just 15 years old in 2012 in Canada and is still the youngest LPGA winner of all time.
After the corona break in 2020, Ko had fallen to number 52 in the world list, but has quickly returned to the sharpest peak and third place in the world list.
Ko says that she receives acknowledgment of her teenage stardom from her mother, who at least does not let her daughter brag.
– My mother sometimes jokes that I played much better when I was 15 than now. I’m just like “thanks mom”. What does he want me to do with that information? I wish I was better than I was 10 years ago, Ko laughed.
Finnish player of Matilda Castren the tournament got off to a great start in Florida, but went wrong with +3 and +6 in the latter two rounds. Castren finished in 52nd place with a combined score of +4.