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Lydia Ko becomes youngest to notch 10 wins on any major tour

October 26, 2015

Lydia Ko of New Zealand displays her trophy after winning the LPGA Taiwan Championship at the Miramar Golf Country Club in Taipei county, Taiwan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo)

By Brian Han

For her latest victory at the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship, Lydia Ko left no question as to who is the best female golfer in the world.

The Korean New Zealander regained the world No. 1 ranking from South Korea’s Park Inbee after winning the tournament on Sunday with a 9-stroke lead at 20-under.

Not only that, she also became the youngest player ever to notch 10 wins on any top-tier tour at the age of 18 years, six months and one day.

Who were the players who held the record?

Horton Smith who won his tenth PGA Tour event back in 1929 at the age of 21, and Nancy Lopez who won her tenth LPGA Tour event in 1979 at the age of 22.

“I think winning and playing well at an event is the top priority,” Ko told reporters after the round. “And then if you get the extra bonus with it, it’s even better. … The winning part is probably the most memorable. I haven’t really thought about being world No. 1 again.”

She put together a dazzling 7-under 65 in the final round, a number that no one else could touch all week.

Two South Koreans, Ryu So-Yeon and Ji Eun-Hee tied for a distant second at 11-under. They almost couldn’t believe how the results turned out.

“She’s still a teenager, so it’s really hard to believe how she acts and how she plays,” Ryu said when asked about Ko and her victory. “I feel really happy to be playing with someone really special on the tour. She’s not only a good player, but she’s a really good person. If she was not a good person, I might be jealous, but I totally respect (her).”

With her fifth victory this year, Ko broke the tie for wins in 2015 with Park. She also now stands atop this year’s money list with over $2.7 million earned.

With the lowest scoring average (69.28) on tour, she is poised to be the youngest player ever to win both the Vare Trophy and Player of the Year.