Lydia Ko Asks LPGA Tour to Waive its Minimum Age Requirement

Lydia Ko has filed a petition with the LPGA Tour asking them to consider waiving the 18-year minimum age restriction.  Finally putting an end to speculation of when the extremely talented 16-year-old would seek professional status.
 
While Ko waits for a response her mother, Tina Hyon told GolfChannel.com “If she plays any pro events now, she will play as a pro.”  Meaning the New Zealander will be hoping to compete as a professional next month at the LPGA’s season-ender CME Group Titleholders in Naples, Florida.
 
The young Ko has more than proven she’s able to keep up with the generation of professionals ahead of her.  Winning the Canadian Open for the second consecutive year and becoming the top-ranked female amateur for the third time running.  To date Ko has accumulated close to $1 million USD in prize money, earnings that as an amateur she has been ineligible to collect.
 
LPGA Tour commissioner Michael Whan will have the final say on whether Ko’s petition is successful.  A position he also found himself in during the 2011 season with then 16-year-old Lexi Thompson.  Whan approved that bid but delayed the ruling’s effect until the following season.  Thompson played her first professional round in 2012 the day before her 17th birthday.