Tour News
Lydia Ko turns pro, granted LPGA membership
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Just five days after Lydia Ko announced decision to turn pro on YouTube (check out the video above), LPGA commissioner Michael Whan announced that the tour has granted the 16-year-old membership for its 2014 season.
“After reviewing Lydia Ko’s petition, I have granted her LPGA Tour membership beginning at the start of the 2014 season,” Whan said in a statement. “This decision ensures that Lydia can attend all of our LPGA rookie development sessions that take place in the early part of the year.”
Ko, already a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is currently the No. 5-ranked golfer in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings. That makes her more than qualified to compete on the LPGA Tour, but like Lexi Thompson two years ago, Ko needed a special waiver to become an LPGA Tour member because of the tour’s 18-year-old age requirement for membership.
“I am very excited to become a member on the LPGA Tour,” Ko said. “It has always been my dream goal to play on the LPGA, and play against the world’s best players. I know that becoming a member is not only performing well, but to deal with responsibilities very well. Women’s golf is growing day by day and I would love to be able to inspire other girls to take up the game, and go for it. I believe this is only the start to my career and I have many new things to learn along the way. I am so grateful to get the opportunity to play with the players I look up to and respect. I can’t wait to start the season early next year.”

Lydia Ko edged Inbee Park by three shots at the 2012 CN Women’s Canadian Open, and Karine Icher by five shots in 2013.
Both Ko’s wins have come at the CN Canadian Women’s Open, where in 2012 she became the youngest player in history to win an LPGA Tour event at the age of 15 years, four months and two days.
Click here to see the clubs Ko used to win the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open.
Ko also finished 2nd this year in the LPGA’s fifth major, the Evian Championship, marking her best finish in a major and the seventh-straight time the New Zealand golfer has made the cut in an LPGA major championship. Playing those events as an amateur, she forwent more than $1 million in earnings.
As Ko hinted in the video, she plans to make her professional debut at the LPGA Tour’s final event of 2013, the CME Group Titleholders in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 21-24. She will compete out of category 7 on the 2014 LPGA Priority List, which is reserved for players who have won an official LPGA event as a non-member in the previous calendar year.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.
Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #4
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #3

WITB Albums
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Bryce Fisher – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB (mini) – 2026 PGA Championship
- Martin Kaymer – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Francisco Bide – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Travis Smyth – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Cameron Smith – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Chris Gabrielle – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Ian Holt – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Ben Kern – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Angel Ayora – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Zach Haynes – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Daniel Hillier – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Mikael Lindburg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Paul McClure – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Garrett Sapp – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Austin Hurt – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Mark Geddes – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Adrien Saddier – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2026 PGA Championshi
- Derek Berg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Timothy Wiseman – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Tyler Collett – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Andy Sullivan – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jesse Droemer – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Michael Block – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jordan Gumberg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Braden Shattuck – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Elvis Smylie – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship

Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Custom Cameron made for Brooks to test – 2026 PGA Championship
- Cameron putters – 2026 PGA Championship
- Haotong Li’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 PGA Championship
- L.A.B. Golf putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- TaylorMade putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- New L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putter for Adrien Saddier – 2026 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- TaylorMade staff bag and covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Callaway staff bag and covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Xander with a new Odyssey milled 7X putter – 2026 PGA Championship
- Srixon driver head cover – 2026 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2026 PGA Championship

Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Truist Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week for the Truist Championship from Quail Hollow Club.
While Titleist’s tour seeding of its new GTS300 mini driver has grabbed early headlines this week, there’s plenty more to see from North Carolina.
Check out links to all our photos below, and be sure to check back throughout this week as we add more.
General Albums
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Tony Finau – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Patrick Cantley – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Kristoffer Reitan – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist GTS 300 “mini” – 2026 Truist Championship
- Cameron putters – 2026 Truist Championship
- Cameron putter made for Justin Rose – 2026 Truist Championship
- Jason Day bag update – 2026 Truist Championship
- Tom Hoge’s Odyssey Ai-Dual 2-Ball Ten putter – 2026 Truist Championship
- Hideki’s “special made CT” Cameron putter – 2026 Truist Championship
- New Cameron for JT to test – 2026 Truist Championship
- Rory McIlroy’s 3 wood change – 2026 Truist Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site in Florida for the PGA Tour’s return to Doral at the 2026 Cadillac Championship.
While the star of the show is no doubt Justin Rose’s new McLaren irons, there’s plenty more to see from the Sunshine State.
Check out links to all our galleries from the Blue Monster below.
General Albums
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #4
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #3
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #4
WITB Albums
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Brian Campbell – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Sam Stevens – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Nicolai Hojgaard – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Hideki Matsuyama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Adam Scott – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Hideki Matsuyama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Adam Scott – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Fox – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Collin Morikawa – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Patrick Rodgers – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
Pullout albums
- Justin Rose’s new McLaren irons – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- New Super Stroke grip – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot Rossie putter murdered out – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey TRTL putter & grip – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey TRTL – left hand model – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Matt Wallace’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Michael Kim’s Titleist GTS 2 driver – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Gerard Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Cameron Young’s custom Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Scotty Cameron Kombi – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Alex Fitzpatrick’s custom stamped Vokey wedges – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Sung Jae Im’s custom Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
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Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
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Whats in the Bag3 days agoKristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
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Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
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Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
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Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
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Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship

Brian stamps
Oct 29, 2013 at 1:22 pm
She’s a very amazing golfer! A lot of hope for her that’s for certain..I’m a fan of her now!
craig@tourimpactgolf.com
Oct 29, 2013 at 8:34 am
It’s a great story, best wishes
Mike
Oct 28, 2013 at 4:04 pm
I hope she sticks to Srixon and I don’t see a Nike tick on her anytime soon.
J
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:43 am
Just wondering what the rule is for then… If your not going to enforce it… Get rid of it.
Not hatin on Ko… Great stick, she’ll do fine…
Sam
Oct 28, 2013 at 1:01 pm
I agree with you. I think she’s a great talent, but I thought her and her parents kept saying that she won’t turn pro for a while and that she would continue to just play golf as is. But I guess when you keep winning and playing well, the $$ talks and it changes your mind.
As you mentioned, why have a rule that never seems to get enforced? If these young players simply petition to turn pro and it gets approved, then the rule is out of place.
Aren’t these rules made so players don’t turn pro too early, don’t get burnt out and have a childhood?
ams165
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:52 am
Amazing talent as a 16 year old.
Hopefully her management team will guide her down the right road and not Michelle Wie avenue….
SN
Oct 29, 2013 at 11:27 pm
What’s wrong with Wie’s avenue?
Maybe she’s the most paid LPGA member of all time…
lol