Lydia Ko is once again in the field at the LPGA’s Pelican Women’s Championship. And so long as she plays, the 24-year-old will now be eligible for one of the LPGA’s most prestigious year-end awards, the Vare Trophy, for the lowest season-long stroke average.
The 16-time LPGA winner recently announced she would be playing the Aramco Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour, which is being held Nov. 4-7. With the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship help Nov. 18-22—and offering a first-place check of $1.5 million—Ko was going to take the week of the Pelican (Nov. 11-14) off to rest up.
However, missing the Pelican would leave Ko one round short of the 70-round minimum needed to be eligible for the Vare. Contacted by Golf Digest, Ko's agent, Jay Burton, said that she is currently on the Pelican playing list. The news was first reported by Golfweek.
Ko is currently third on tour in stroke average at 69.615, trailing Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda. However, both those players will fall short of the 70-round minimum, allowing Lydia Ko to become the front-runner for the Vare. And winning the trophy offers a unique spoil—it’s worth a point for a player as she attempts to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Players need a total of 27 points to get in, and Ko sits at 19.
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