1 Feb 2015

Ko youngest ever world No 1

11:52 am on 1 February 2015

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has made history by becoming the youngest ever world number one.

Lydia Ko tees off in Florida.

Lydia Ko tees off in Florida. Photo: AFP

Ko finished second by one shot in the season opening LPGA tour event in Florida this morning, won by the Korean Na Yeon Choi.

Ko led by four shots at one stage early in her final round before a double bogey on the 17th hole blew her chances of victory.

The 17-year-old New Zealander is now the youngest world No 1, men's or women's, in the history of professional golf.

Earlier in the tournament Ko said, despite the crowds being out in force, she could always hear her dad's voice giving her encouragement.

"I can always spot it," Ko admitted. "It's a voice I always hear. And he actually has quite a loud voice just even talking, so he's always verbal out there. But in a way it's good, it kind of gives me a little bit of oomph and it's good to have the support."

Ko, who only turned professional in October 2013, has broken records throughout her amateur and professional career.

She's the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event and the youngest person to win an LPGA Tour event.

In August 2013, she became the only amateur to win two LPGA Tour events.

Ko won three LPGA tournaments in her first year as a professional last season.

She won the season ending event to snare the LPGA tour's season-long points race and claim $1.9 million in prize-money in just one day, the biggest single payday in women's golf history.