When 15-y/o Lydia Ko was denied her $300,000 paycheck after 1st win as the youngest LPGA winner in history

Lydia Ko has emerged as one of golf's all-time greats in her more than a decade-old playing career. Ko's rise to golf began in 2012. The then-15-year-old won the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open and became the youngest LPGA Tour winner, a record that still stands. She won the tournament by three strokes over South Korea's Inbee Park.

As Ko was an amateur golfer, she was denied the $300,000 prize money after her first LPGA Tour win. As per the rules of amateur golf, amateurs can't receive prize money from tournaments even when they win. She entered the tournament on a sponsor exemption, after winning the US Women's Amateur.

In the post-tournament press conference, Lydia Ko was asked if she had thought she'd win the title in her wildest dreams. Ko replied (via ASAP Sports):

"No, not really. I won the New South Wales Open, and that was the only European Tour event, but LPGA Tour is where I want to turn professional and hopefully my career would direct that way."

Ko also won the 2012 Bing Lee Samsung Women's NSW Open by four strokes over Becky Morgan. She added:

"So I never knew I had it coming, and I was so happy to win the U.S. Amateur, to win this, I never think about it. I just wanted to make the cut. And when I saw that I was tied first after the second day, I was like, wow. I'm feeling really good. And yeah, kind of surprised to have two wins in such a short time."

Lydia Ko played 16 LPGA Tour events as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and made cuts in all of them. She defended her title in 2013 by five strokes over Karine Icher. She turned professional in 2013. The New Zealand player had a stellar 2024 season with three wins on the LPGA Tour including a Major.

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A look at Lydia Ko's record on LPGA Tour

Lydia Ko has had a terrific career so far. In 261 starts on the LPGA Tour, she has 22 wins, 111 top-10 finishes, and 163 top-25 finishes. In 2024, she became the youngest player inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame after winning the Olympic gold medal in 2024.

Further, she has been LPGA Player of the Year twice in 2015 and 2022. Ko, who has topped the Race to CME Globe Champion thrice in 2014, 2015, and 2022, also has three major titles.

Let's take a look at Lydia Ko's wins on the LPGA Tour:

• 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open
• 2013 CN Canadian Women's Open (2)
• 2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic
• 2014 Marathon Classic
• 2014 CME Group Tour Championship
• 2015 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open
• 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic (2)
• 2015 Canadian Pacific Women's Open (3)
• 2015 The Evian Championship
• 2015 Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship
• 2016 Kia Classic
• 2016 ANA Inspiration
• 2016 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• 2016 Marathon Classic (2)
• 2018 LPGA Mediheal Championship
• 2021 Lotte Championship
• 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio
• 2022 BMW Ladies Championship
• 2022 CME Group Tour Championship (2)
• 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
• 2024 AIG Women's Open
• 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship