Lydia Ko Goes Pro

Randall Mell with the news of 16-year-old Lydia Ko, currently 5th in the Rolex Rankings, deciding to turn pro.

She will make her debut as a professional in the LPGA’s CME Group Titleholders next month.

And we have this saga to look forward to:

As a non-member winner of a tour event, Ko is entitled to claim tour membership. She could seek to claim immediate membership for the rest of 2013 and through 2014. Or, she could defer membership to next year. However, Ko can’t do either without first obtaining a waiver of the tour’s age restriction. LPGA commissioner Mike Whan holds the power to grant or deny such petitions.

Update on 2013-10-10 15:59 by Geoff

**The LPGA really doesn't want to hear any questions about what the Commissioner is thinking on this. Their statement:

“The LPGA has received Lydia Ko’s petition and the Commissioner plans to review it upon his return from Asia. The decision on the petition will be solely up to the Commissioner’s discretion and upon his review, he will communicate directly with Lydia and her family. The LPGA does not comment publicly on petitions as they are a private matter between the player and the Commissioner.”