Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the Rolex Player of the Year trophy. Photo / Getty
Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the Rolex Player of the Year trophy. Photo / Getty
Lydia Ko is in the money once again. The 18-year-old New Zealander has won the LPGA's order of merit for the second straight year, along with it the US$1m (NZ$1.52m) prize, after finishing tied for seventh at the season ending CME Group Tour Championship.
With three prizes up for grabs coming into the final hole of the year there was no shortage of drama as Ko won the most important trophy and the $NZ$1.5m to go with it.
Ko fired a final round even-par 72 to finish at 11-under for the tournament.
Closest rival Inbee Park finished one stroke ahead but it wasn't enough to deny Ko the world number one status and the Rolex player of the year title for the first time.
It took Ko some time to realize she had won the biggest prize in women's golf for the second year running, but there were tears of joy once the news made its way to her.
"What triggered my emotion was how tough the day was. It's been a long season of ups and downs as well, mainly ups but I think every emotion went through me today," said Ko.
The US$1m payout for the season-long Race to the CME Globe title takes Ko's earnings for 2015 past US$3m and tops US$5m for her career.
It is Ko's 17th top 10 finish of the year in 24 tournaments, in which five were victories.
In the final tournament of the year, Ko was unable to win the CME Tour Championship.
Things looked promising as she started the final round just two shots back from the lead. She shot an even par round, quiet for her standards, and finished in a tie for seventh, six strokes behind Crisite Kerr of the USA, who won the tournament by just the one stroke.
The Kiwi's putting game wasn't quite up to her normal standard as she lipped out on the final hole to top it all off.
Lydia Ko poses with a box of one million dollars in cash. Photo / Getty
"I felt like the hole was smaller than the ball today and when your putter goes cold it's hard to catch the leaders. I tried my best but I've just got to take the positives and I'm happy the season is over and I can relax now."
The only major award Ko didn't manage to lock away was the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average across the season. This was claimed by world No 2 and friendly rival, Inbee Park by the smallest of margins.
Needing to finish two strokes ahead of Park, her even par round left her short with Park shooting a solid three under par round to stop the trifecta of victories for Ko.
High Performance Manager at New Zealand Golf, Gregg Thorpe commented on Ko's win with a beaming smile.
"Lydia continues to be a great ambassador for the game of golf in New Zealand. Becoming the Race to the CME Globe Champion once is an amazing achievement, but to go back to back makes us all very proud," said Thorpe.
It has been another year of success for golf's golden girl with Ko winning five times on the LPGA Tour, becoming the youngest to 10 wins, rising to number one in the world and becoming the youngest ever to win a Major Championship.
To top off a day she will never forget, Ko also won a Kia Sorento car for finishing the regular season with the most top-10 finishes. She may have to consider getting her driver's licence now.
