Lydia Ko becomes youngest ever winner at 14

Young New Zealander breaks the record previously held by Japan's male golf star Ryo Ishikawa

Lydia Ko
(Image credit: Getty Images)

New Zealand's Lydia Ko has become the youngest ever winner of a professional golf tournament, after winning the New South Wales Open aged 14.

Ranked as the women's top amateur, Ko won by four shots to break the current record held by Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, who was 15-years-old when he claimed his first professional title.

The women's record had previously been held by Amy Yang, who won the Australian Ladies Masters aged 16.

Ko, who fired a bogey-free final round 69 to to win by four shots, said: "To be part of history is like a miracle. It's not something you can have by clicking your fingers.

"My driver and iron play were probably the nicest to me over the past two days. I also putted well, but I was in good position on most of the greens because I was able to make approaches from good places on the fairways."

The young New Zealander will now play in the Australian Masters and the LPGA's Australian Open over the next two weeks and added: "I'll play in mostly amateur tournaments after that, and my schedule looks pretty busy for several months."

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