The 16-time LPGA winner recently announced she would be playing the Aramco Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour, which is being held from November 4-7. With the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship held from November 18-22 – and offering a first-place cheque of $US1.5 million – Ko was going to take the week of the Pelican (November 11-14) off to rest.
However, missing the Pelican would leave Ko one round short of the 70-round minimum needed to be eligible for the Vare. Contacted by Golf Digest, Ko’s manager, Jay Burton, said that she is currently on the Pelican playing list. The news was first reported by Golfweek.
Ko is currently third on tour in stroke average at 69.615, trailing Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda. However, both those players will fall short of the 70-round minimum, allowing Lydia Ko to become the front-runner for the Vare. And winning the trophy offers a unique spoil – it’s worth a point for a player as she attempts to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Players need a total of 27 points to get in, and Ko sits at 19.
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