Author Archives: F. Edwin Miller

By F. Edwin Miller

15-year-old Lydia Ko can add another unwordly accolade to her even more unworldly resume.

After accepting the Mark H. McCormack Medal last year as the top ranking female amateur in the world, the then 14-year-old Ko won the Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s New South Wales Open on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour (ALPG) in January. The event made her the youngest person to ever win a professional golf tour event. Yet somehow, the teen has found a way to outdo herself.

For the past 68 weeks and counting (and entering last year’s rankings), Ko has remained at number one. Her consistent play has earned her a second McCormack Medal according to officials from the R&A and U.S. Golf Association.

(Matt Roberts, Getty Images AsiaPac)

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Ko about her streak.

“After I got the medal last year, I haven’t lost the No.1 position since then. It’s good to continue it. I’ll continue to get more invites to professional events. It’s always good to be World No. 1.”

To continue her string of success, Ko defeated American, Jaye Marie Green, to seize the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship title at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio little under a week ago.

Other wins for the teen include the 2012 Australian Women’s Amateur and the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open where she earned a silver medal as the top amateur player. However, the teen had a historic year in 2011 when she became the first player to win the Australian Ladies’ Stroke Play and New Zealand Ladies’ Stroke Play in the same year. In addition, she won the 2011 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Matchplay Championship.

“It’s good to have your name along with those big names,” said Ko about others who have held the number one position. “There are so many great players’ names on there.”

The 2012 McCormack Medal reserves her a spot in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open; yet more importantly, an opportunity to play against “so many” of those “great players.” Look for Ko to add another win to that special resume of hers in 2013. 

By F. Edwin Miller

15-year-old Lydia Ko can add another unwordly accolade to her even more unworldly resume.

After accepting the Mark H. McCormack Medal last year as the top ranking female amateur in the world, the then 14-year-old Ko won the Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s New South Wales Open on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour (ALPG) in January. The event made her the youngest person to ever win a professional golf tour event. Yet somehow, the teen has found a way to outdo herself.

For the past 68 weeks and counting (and entering last year’s rankings), Ko has remained at number one. Her consistent play has earned her a second McCormack Medal according to officials from the R&A and U.S. Golf Association.

(Matt Roberts, Getty Images AsiaPac)

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Ko about her streak.

“After I got the medal last year, I haven’t lost the No.1 position since then. It’s good to continue it. I’ll continue to get more invites to professional events. It’s always good to be World No. 1.”

To continue her string of success, Ko defeated American, Jaye Marie Green, to seize the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship title at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio little under a week ago.

Other wins for the teen include the 2012 Australian Women’s Amateur and the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open where she earned a silver medal as the top amateur player. However, the teen had a historic year in 2011 when she became the first player to win the Australian Ladies’ Stroke Play and New Zealand Ladies’ Stroke Play in the same year. In addition, she won the 2011 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Matchplay Championship.

“It’s good to have your name along with those big names,” said Ko about others who have held the number one position. “There are so many great players’ names on there.”

The 2012 McCormack Medal reserves her a spot in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open; yet more importantly, an opportunity to play against “so many” of those “great players.” Look for Ko to add another win to that special resume of hers in 2013. 

By F. Edwin Miller

The beast of the PGA Tour jungle has reclaimed his spot atop the World Golf Rankings. That beast is not a tiger…or is it?

(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)

On Sunday, “the beast,” Rory McIlroy dominantly stroked his way to a PGA Championship win at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course by a record-setting eight shot lead. The tournament solified a second major title (2011 U.S. Open) for 23-year-old McIlroy; yet, it also solified his place amongst major company. Tiger Woods, who finished in a frustrating seven-way tie for eleventh at Kiawah, owned two major wins at the age of 23. Comparisons between the two will inevitably continue for the rest of McIlroy’s career; yet, Sunday’s finish opens up one essential question: what will he have to do to stay atop of the World Golf Rankings and atop of Woods in 2013?

With only four years of professional experience, 24-year-old Woods had already won six major titles. However, McIlroy will enter his seventh professional year at 24 as only a two-time major winner. Evaluating the two by major wins after six, not even seven, professional years could only make catching Woods more difficult for McIlroy. To spare McIlroy even more trouble, let’s simply measure the two by age.

(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images North America)

In 2000, 24-year-old Tiger Woods won a career-high nine PGA Tour events and produced one of the greatest years in golf history. Three of those events (U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship) capped off a record year for Woods (in majors) as he nearly completed a Grand Slam. As for the soon-to-be 24-year-old McIlroy, well, he must win at least three majors to stay on track with Tiger next year.

Good luck earning your (tiger) stripes McIlroy, you’ll need it.

By F. Edwin Miller

The beast of the PGA Tour jungle has reclaimed his spot atop the World Golf Rankings. That beast is not a tiger…or is it?

(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)

On Sunday, “the beast,” Rory McIlroy dominantly stroked his way to a PGA Championship win at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course by a record-setting eight shot lead. The tournament solified a second major title (2011 U.S. Open) for 23-year-old McIlroy; yet, it also solified his place amongst major company. Tiger Woods, who finished in a frustrating seven-way tie for eleventh at Kiawah, owned two major wins at the age of 23. Comparisons between the two will inevitably continue for the rest of McIlroy’s career; yet, Sunday’s finish opens up one essential question: what will he have to do to stay atop of the World Golf Rankings and atop of Woods in 2013?

With only four years of professional experience, 24-year-old Woods had already won six major titles. However, McIlroy will enter his seventh professional year at 24 as only a two-time major winner. Evaluating the two by major wins after six, not even seven, professional years could only make catching Woods more difficult for McIlroy. To spare McIlroy even more trouble, let’s simply measure the two by age.

(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images North America)

In 2000, 24-year-old Tiger Woods won a career-high nine PGA Tour events and produced one of the greatest years in golf history. Three of those events (U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship) capped off a record year for Woods (in majors) as he nearly completed a Grand Slam. As for the soon-to-be 24-year-old McIlroy, well, he must win at least three majors to stay on track with Tiger next year.

Good luck earning your (tiger) stripes McIlroy, you’ll need it.

By F. Edwin Miller

The beast of the PGA Tour jungle has reclaimed his spot atop the World Golf Rankings. That beast is not a tiger…or is it?

(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)

On Sunday, “the beast,” Rory McIlroy dominantly stroked his way to a PGA Championship win at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course by a record-setting eight shot lead. The tournament solified a second major title (2011 U.S. Open) for 23-year-old McIlroy; yet, it also solified his place amongst major company. Tiger Woods, who finished in a frustrating seven-way tie for eleventh at Kiawah, owned two major wins at the age of 23. Comparisons between the two will inevitably continue for the rest of McIlroy’s career; yet, Sunday’s finish opens up one essential question: what will he have to do to stay atop of the World Golf Rankings and atop of Woods in 2013?

With only four years of professional experience, 24-year-old Woods had already won six major titles. However, McIlroy will enter his seventh professional year at 24 as only a two-time major winner. Evaluating the two by major wins after six, not even seven, professional years could only make catching Woods more difficult for McIlroy. To spare McIlroy even more trouble, let’s simply measure the two by age.

(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images North America)

In 2000, 24-year-old Tiger Woods won a career-high nine PGA Tour events and produced one of the greatest years in golf history. Three of those events (U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship) capped off a record year for Woods (in majors) as he nearly completed a Grand Slam. As for the soon-to-be 24-year-old McIlroy, well, he must win at least three majors to stay on track with Tiger next year.

Good luck earning your (tiger) stripes McIlroy, you’ll need it.