Lydia Ko capped off an incredible rookie campaign on the LPGA Tour with a win in the season finale that earned her the biggest payday ($1.5 million) in tour history. But her coach, David Leadbetter, already has his eyes on 2015's major championships.
"Within the next year would not surprise me at all," Leadbetter told The New Zealand Herald. "She's 17 and hasn't played many majors, so it really is just a matter of time."
Ko will play one major, the newly-named All Nippon Airways Championship (formerly the Kraft Nabisco), before turning 18. The report said Leadbetter, who started working with Ko just over a year ago, feels his newest prized student is particularly suited for the U.S. Women's Open due to her "patient approach" and "short-game mastery." The tournament will be held for the first time at Lancaster Country Club (Pa.) July 6-12.
Of course, Ko winning any major shouldn't surprise anyone at this point. Despite her youth, Ko has flirted with the top of the Rolex Rankings and the already five-time LPGA winner is currently No. 3 behind Inbee Park and Stacy Lewis.
Park happens to be the youngest U.S. Women's Open winner ever at 19 years and 11 months in 2008. Ko's April birthday means she'll have two cracks to break that record. We're certainly not betting against her getting it done.
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