The world knows 17-year-old Lydia Ko won the Swinging Skirts (again!), but only Mostly Harmless regulars know that she's joined Lexi and Michelle in the LPGA's Club 36 (for 3-to-6-time winners on tour). About time I updated that predictive ranking, don't you think? Soon!
Azahara Munoz couldn't crack the top 10 in the Bay Area, but she did earn enough to break the $3M barrier in career winnings on the LPGA.
It's worth noting that the Pacific Rim youth wave that Ko is the most famous droplet in began out in Asia. Last week, 15-year-old Minami Katsu became the youngest winner in JLPGA history. This week, 18-year-old rookie sensation Kyu Jung Baek won on the KLPGA and 21-year-old Phoebe Yao won on the JLPGA.
Back at home, 24-year-old Marissa Steen prevailed in a 5-hole playoff on the Symetra Tour over another young sensation of Asian descent, 18-year-old Yueer Cindy Feng. Feng has top 5s in 4 of her 5 starts on tour and continues to lead their money list.
Do yourself a favor and don't add up the combined ages of all 4 of last week's winners! Congratulations to them all!
4 comments:
Bruce you may well be showing how the culture of youths are in Asia or of Asian descent. They want to achieve something in life. Here many have no direction are unemployed, smoke dope or legal highs and end up contributing to the high youth suicide rate.
You also had 22 year old Seung Yul Noh winning his first PGA Tour event at the same tournament that saw the breakthrough win of his sunbae (senior), KJ Choi, 12 years ago.
Kevin
I don't know if youth suicide rates support your point, Colin. They're scary high in many Asian countries, too. I think we're talking about some truly exceptional young women that anyone can admire. Same goes for Noh, Ishikawa, Matsuyama--and Rory, Ricky, etc. Yes it's partly cultural, but many share their culture and aren't doing what they're doing.
It may well just come back to parenting and how involved they are to see their son or daughter achieve some success in life. Parental support is something mentioned time and again by the young players on tour and is shown by the number toting the bag around. I can only speak of what I see here. The membership and fees charged to juniors to play golf here is very cheap and affordable. You would hope Lydia is an inspiration to show them what can be achieved at a young age with some dedication and hard work turning into the skill need for success.
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