Lydia Ko Wins Wins 2nd Straight CMB Globe Title
Nobody would have questioned Lydia Ko if she had fallen off a little in 2015. After all, in just her first professional season on tour, Ko won three times including the Tour Championship and season long CME Globe title.
Instead, Ko backed up her 2014 season with an even more impressive 2015. She won five times, including a major, and with her T7 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship, locked up her second consecutive CME Globe title and $1 million bonus. Ko did more than just wrap up the CME Globe Sunday in Naples. She also won the Rolex Player of the Year award, making her the youngest in LPGA history to claim that crown.
“I know for sure I couldn’t be here without my team,” Ko said. “They have definitely helped keep me grounded.”
While Ko was collecting her money and Player of the Year trophy, Inbee Park, arguably Ko’s biggest rival, was collecting the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average during the 2015 season. The race for the lowest scoring average was so close between Ko and Park, the winner wasn’t decided until the 72nd hole on Sunday. Ko needed to eagle her final hole to sweep all there trophies but didn’t, thus surrendering the title to Park.
For Park, the Vare isn’t just another trophy for the mantle. It represents the 27th point that she needed to lock up her spot in the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
”I said the Hall of Fame will be my last goal, but it really came early and I achieved pretty much everything I set so far in my career,” Park said. ”There is plenty other goals to set.”
Lost in all the back and forth between Ko and Park was Christie Kerr, who held off both of them and a slew of others to win the Tour Championship by a shot over U.S. Solheim Cup hero Gerina Piller. Kerr, who took some time off in late 2013 for the birth of her son Mason, bounced back with an impressive 2015. Before her win in Naples, Kerr also won the Kia Classic and played a large role in the U.S. win at the Solheim cup in September.
“I love what I do,” said Kerr. “I certainly love days like today.”
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.