Some traditionalists had issues when the LPGA declared that the Evian Championship it newest and fifth major championship. Somehow I don’t think Lydia Ko had any objections.
Ko re-wrote another line in the record book yesterday as she became the youngest major winner, male or female in modern golf. At 18 years and 4 months she eclipsed Morgan Pressel by six months.
The youngest male golfer to win a major was Young Tom Morris way back in 1868 when sheep were trimming the turf at Prestwick Golf Club. So we can certainly call Ko the youngest winner in the modern era.
But the diminutive teenager has been busy being “the youngest” something or other for the past few years. She was already the youngest female to win a professional event, the youngest LPGA winner and the youngest to earn the number one ranking in the world.
This was her ninth LPGA victory and fourteenth world-wide win. She’s an amazing story that doesn’t get the press she deserves.
Ko managed a bogey free 63 over the undulating and challenging course and finished it out in style with a birdie on the last before she was doused with water by her friends.
One of those doing the dousing was Lexi Thompson who was in control of the championship and for all intents cruising to what looked like another major championship victory.
The long hitting Thompson had a three shot lead on the front nine but played the final eleven holes in plus three while Ko bunted her way through a birdie fest. She carded eight birds overall with a sizzling back nine that included five birdies to close out Thompson.
Ko was her usual understated self afterwards. “It’s been such an unbelievable experience and everybody won’t ask me when I will win my first major because it’s done.”
No, they won’t be asking that but now the question will be when will she win her next.
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