Ko, McCaw, Carter on Laureus shortlist

Lydia Ko won the order of merit on the LPGA. photo / AP

Lydia Ko, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and the All Blacks are being touted as shortlist contenders for the Laureus world sports awards alongside megastars such as Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic and Katie Ledecky.

Golf prodigy Ko is sure to be among the contenders in the women's section but the favourite will be tennis legend Serena Williams and teenage American swimming freak Katie Ledecky.

McCaw has been mentioned alongside sprinting superstar Bolt and tennis giant Djokovic. The list of male contenders includes Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, football greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, basketballer LeBron James, athletes Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, cyclists Chris Froome and Alberto Contador, world golf No.1 Jordan Spieth, and boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Dan Carter, ski star Lindsey Vonn, swimmer Michael Phelps, athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and Aussie surfer/shark attack survivor Mick Fanning are in the comeback category.

The world champion All Blacks are up against football powerhouse Barcelona and the Mercedes Formula One team, the two favourites, for the team award. Aussie Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, is a contender for a nomination in the breakthrough category.

The sportsman of the year is expected to be a particularly close battle, and Laureus chairman Ed Moses said: "'This is a year when you can look at the potential nominees and see so many possible winners." Nominees will be revealed in the New Year.