Ko misses out to Messi at ESPYs

Lydia Ko and Lionel Messi have both been nominated for awards at the ESPY awards including the Best International Athlete category. Photo / AP.

Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has missed out on winning the Best International Athlete at this year's ESPY awards with the gong going to football superstar Lionel Messi, while Caitlyn Jenner has been awarded for her personal bravery.

Ko, the New Zealand golf phenom and world No2, still managed to take home Best Female Golfer, beating out competition from world No1 Inbee Park and No3 Stacy Lewis.

Ko was the only female nominated for the Best International Athlete award which also included nominees Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton and Novak Djokovic.

Ko, who wasn't attending the awards as she is in Sylvania, Ohio to defend her title at the Marathon Classic, said she was jsut happy to be nominated.

"It was pretty cool for me to be nominated just amongst those amazing athletes.

"It might be after my bedtime as I'm teeing off early tomorrow," she told media today.

In early 2015, Ko smashed the mark for being the youngest golfer to hold the world number one ranking. She achieved the feat aged 17 years and 167 days - Tiger Woods held the record at 21 years and 167 days while Korean Jiyai Shin was 22 when she became the top women's golfer in 2010.

Ko has held the number one spot for most of this year, relinquishing it in recent weeks to Park.

Her coach, David Leadbetter, had been surprised at the how fast Ko reached the top spot. He had not expected Ko to be so consistent early in her professional career.

She made headlines around the world and seasoned observers have been amazed at her ability to cope with the pressure - to emphasise that, she claimed the Australian Open title soon after reaching the No. 1 spot.

The ESPY's, America's sport version of the Oscars, celebrate the best sporting achievements every year and began at midday today on Sky.

In what could be the ceremony's highlight, Caitlyn Jenner was awarded the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage following her public transition to womanhood earlier this year.

Jenner, who won the men's decathlon at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, received a standing ovation at the Los Angeles award ceremony.

Jenner used her platform to draw attention to the struggles transgendered people face when coming to terms with their identity and the stigma they can receive afterward.

"I know the people in this room have respect for hard work, for training, for going through something difficult to achieve the outcome you desire.

"This transition has been harder on me than anything I could imagine and that's the case for so many others besides me.

"For that reason alone, trans people deserve something vital, they deserve your respect."

Jenner thanked her family for supporting her, tearing up as she remembered how she always wanted her children to be proud of their dad.

The Arthur Ashe Award goes to individuals whose bravery "transcends sports", and previous winners include Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, and Nelson Mandela.