Opinion & Analysis
Lydia Ko: the Next Wie? Next Thompson? Or More?
For the first time in a while, there might be a bit more competition for the top ranking spot in women’s amateur golf. Australians So-Hyun Oh and Minjee Lee will battle for the top spot from this week on.
That’s because 16-year-old Lydia Ko, who has held a runaway lead on all others for seemingly her entire life, will finally turn professional. The Kiwi, who has already won two LPGA Tour events and, before that, the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, has risen to the No. 5 spot in the Rolex Rankings for all women golfers. After winning her second consecutive CN Canadian Women’s Open in August, Ko went on to finish runner-up to Suzann Pettersen in the final LPGA major of the year, the Evian Masters. Perhaps the most astounding fact of Ko’s young career is that in 25 professional tournaments, she has yet to miss a cut. As she begins her paid exploits in golf, that trend looks like it will continue for a long while. Optimists about Ko’s prospects have good reason to predict she may threaten Tiger Woods’ all-time consecutive cuts streak of 142 events.
Click here to see what clubs Ko used to win the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open.
But being that Ko is 19 months from her 18th birthday, she will need to rely on LPGA commissioner Michael Whan to grant her the opportunity to be a full LPGA Tour member. Young LPGA Tour standout Lexi Thompson’s example should be encouraging to Ko and her family—Thompson, who turned pro in 2010 and won an LPGA event in 2011 at the age of 16, was granted LPGA Tour membership shortly thereafter. Ko will turn 17 on April 24, 2014.
There is no reason to doubt Ko will be granted her own early LPGA Tour membership, especially given her amateur career has outstripped that of Thompson, as well as original teen wunderkind Michelle Wie.
Wie, who turned 24 on Friday, won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in 2003 at the age of 13, which whipped up a feeling of excitement that women’s golf had not seen in decades. She turned pro in 2005 and, while she did not become a full Tour member until 2009, she played in her fair share of LPGA and even a few PGA Tour events, to say nothing of the millions of dollars in endorsements she accrued in that time.
Anyone who has followed golf in the last decade knows how far short of expectations Wie has fallen, with only two LPGA Tour victories to her credit. Coincidentally, the more recent of those two is the CN Canadian Women’s Open, which Wie won in 2010 and Ko won in 2012 and 2013.
Wie’s career has certainly played out as a bit of a cautionary tale in the management or, perhaps, mismanagement of exceptional young golf talent. But given the better tempered buzz surrounding Ko, as well as the fact that she has already equaled Wie’s career win total, we should be looking at as surefire a long-term star in women’s golf as is imaginable. Commissioner Whan cannot sign Ko up for the Tour fast enough.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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Chuck D
Feb 27, 2016 at 1:54 am
Wie? Who’s that?
kickngoals
Oct 17, 2013 at 4:45 am
Great pick up there Mike you are so right.
Unfortunately Michelle Wie did not live up to her expectations Lydia has already proven she is better i just hope she is not pushed or rushed at her young age also.Good luck.
tonyk
Oct 13, 2013 at 9:16 pm
She is already better than Thompson and Wie combined.
BigBoy
Oct 13, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Wie wishes she had half the talent of this young girl.
its one thing to watch a golfer on a screen and comment on their swings, but it is another game when you follow a golfer on the track and hear the ballstrike….this girl excels.
Jack
Oct 14, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Wie has her on looks, but that doesn’t really help her when playing golf on the LPGA tour. Marketing… yes, but not actual performance.
195 Bowler
Oct 15, 2013 at 7:42 pm
And, her performances have been exceptional. Lydia hits it further than it appears. And, she is taller and more athletic than she appears on TV. Seems to have a good perspective too. All the best to her.
Troy Vayanos
Oct 13, 2013 at 5:13 pm
She’ll be better than Michelle Wie no doubt. Lexi Thompson is still very young but has achieved a lot already but only time will tell whether she reaches her achievements at the same age.
Lydia has a very exciting career ahead of her no question!
Matt
Oct 13, 2013 at 2:25 pm
+10000
Lydia Ko is the next Sorenstam, and even better …
Mike
Oct 13, 2013 at 11:55 am
I can’t believe I read the title correct.
Lydia Ko has been on my radar for 3 years now and she is simply so complete as a golfing package. Her distance is increasing but at an earlier age her touch and putter beat the competition.
It would read better as Ko, the next Sorenstam?
[email protected]
Oct 16, 2013 at 8:53 am
Perfect comparison, could not agree more!
kickngoals
Oct 13, 2013 at 7:56 am
Good on her what a great temperment she has hope she can make it huge on the big stage as im sure she will…..good luck Lydia make us kiwis proud of you again.
Jack
Oct 12, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Who cares what her amateur record is at? She has already won two events this year playing on the LPGA. How much more ready can she be? The only difference is whether she will be making money off it.
Steve
Oct 12, 2013 at 4:59 pm
She’s already better than both IMO. Lexi might be able to compete with her throughout their careers, but they both are already way ahead of Wie.
Joe
Oct 12, 2013 at 5:21 pm
She’ll be way better than Lexi. Lexi tries to hit the ball too hard to be consistent.
paul
Oct 12, 2013 at 6:21 pm
You should hear the crack from 20 feet away like i did when she hits it hard. wow.
joe
Oct 12, 2013 at 8:04 pm
That’s because she’s trying not making good contact. You don’t hear a crack from solid ball-strikers.
joe
Oct 12, 2013 at 8:05 pm
trying hard and not making good contact**
Steve
Oct 13, 2013 at 1:25 am
She’s freakin 18. She played with her brothers growing up. Obviously she wanted to bomb it out there to try to keep up with them, it’s a natural thing. She has plenty of time to grow and learn to harness her power, which she has a lot more of than most women.