OT: 16 year old Lydia Ko turns pro...yikes!

[Blakeon18]

She just announced it. Incredibly she is ranked #4 in the world....has already won twice on the LPGA tour. She has applied for a special exemption from the LPGA to play in unlimited events....otherwise she would only be permitted to play kinda part-time. I would guess they would give her the exemption.

Here's hoping that Lydia and her support group keep their wits about them in terms of schedule, endorsements and common sense given her age.

 

[Blakeon18]

The LPGA just gave her a waiver to play full-time on the tour in 2014 [waiver needed if the player is under 18.
At 16 she is #4 in the world and based on her quotes seems beyond her years in poise and intelligence.

On a somewhat related note: I find it...uhh...'interesting' that the NBA, the NFL, the WNBA and many pro sports have decided that high school grads are not eligible to be drafted and try out for jobs in those leagues while the same [young ] adults are very eligible to enter our armed services and be sent in harm's way around the globe. As of now it is obviously legal for those leagues to have that policy....that hardly makes it right.

 

[willtalk]

The LPGA just gave her a waiver to play full-time on the tour in 2014 [waiver needed if the player is under 18.
At 16 she is #4 in the world and based on her quotes seems beyond her years in poise and intelligence.

On a somewhat related note: I find it...uhh...'interesting' that the NBA, the NFL, the WNBA and many pro sports have decided that high school grads are not eligible to be drafted and try out for jobs in those leagues while the same [young ] adults are very eligible to enter our armed services and be sent in harm's way around the globe. As of now it is obviously legal for those leagues to have that policy....that hardly makes it right.

I think there is a significant difference. The NBA, NFL, and WNBA are all team sports who make a financial investment in their athletes when they sign them too exclusive contracts. The league has a vested interest in the development of the players. They have found though experience that if a player is not mature enough that not only are they bad immediate investments, but also it impacts the players ability to develop as a future asset to the league. The signing of a player who bombs out to a big contract can impact that team for years. The leagues realize that their collective success is dependent on a degree of parity, so it has made rules to protect itself from stupid owners. Golf is not a team sport so the individual player is essentially a free agent thus does not affect others. If they fail so what, they just come back when they are ready. In basketball or football once you commit yourself to becoming professional you give up the right to develop in the college the developmental farm system of the pro's. In a non-team sport you can develop on your own. In golf you are not competing physically against other players. A 16 year old would have "a snowballs chance in hell" to compete in those other sports.