Lydia Ko has become the youngest player to win the LPGA Tour's rookie of the year award.
The 17-year-old Ko clinched the points-based award with three tournaments remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule.
In her first full season on the tour as a professional, Ko won twice, had two runner-up finishes and nine additional top 10s.
Laura Baugh was 18 when she won the LPGA Tour rookie of the year in 1973.
Ko is No 3 in the women's world ranking and is No 4 on the LPGA Tour money list with just over US$1.5 million going into the Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week in Mexico. She also is third in the Race to the CME Globe, a season race that culminates next week in Florida with US$1 million going to the winner.
