February 1, 2015
Lydia Ko (click here) has ascended to the top of world golf faster than any player in the game's history.
The 17-year-old from Auckland tied for second in the season-opening LPGA event in Florida on Saturday, which was enough to climb to No.1 in the world rankings.
Korean Na Yeon Choi won the tournament.
Ko leapfrogs Korean Inbee Park, who finished tied for 13th at the $US1.5 million ($A1.93 million) tournament to become the youngest player, male or female, to hold the top status.
The previous youngest woman was Korean Jiyai Shin, who was 22 when she rose to the top in 2008, while American great Tiger Woods set the men's record aged 21 in 1997.
Ko, who turns 18 in April, won three LPGA titles in her rookie season last year and her gutsy triumph at the Golden Ocala course is her sixth in total....
