Lydia Ko, 17, becomes youngest LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year

 

Lydia Ko has become the youngest player to win the LPGA Tour's Rookie of the Year award.

The 17-year-old Ko clinched the points-based award with three tournaments remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule. She already has two victories, two runner-up finishes and nine other finishes in the top 10.

Laura Baugh was 18 when she earned LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1973.

Ko is No. 3 in the world ranking and No. 4 on the LPGA Tour money list with just over $1.5 million going into the Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week in Mexico.

She's third in the Race to the CME Globe, which culminates next week in Florida with $1 million going to the winner.

Ko, of New Zealand, was born in Seoul, South Korea.