It seems like every other year the world is introduced to the next great athlete of the generation, even more so for the game of golf. From Sergio Garcia to Michelle Wie, we’re captivated by such incredible talent and the media swarms around these sports prodigies. Now, it’s a far cry from the watching the video clip of 2-year-old Tiger Woods’ appearance on The Mike Douglas Show in 1978, but it’s simply a story that captivates an audience.
Last week, Lydia Ko, an amateur female golfer from New Zealand (born in South Korea) won the 2012 New South Wales Open by four strokes after turning in a final round 69. She finished the 54-hole tournament at 14 under par en route to becoming, at age 14, the youngest winner of a professional golf tournament in world history. This feat trumped Amy Yang’s performance in 2006 (Age 16) at the ANZ Ladies Masters played in Australia. Additionally, Ryo Ishikawa still holds the record for the youngest male to win a professional in 2008 at age 15.
As stated, it’s always a great headline to hear about the “next Tiger Woods”. Technology continues to get better and more advanced, and athletes begin their training from the moment they can walk (maybe even crawl). The allure will always remain even as the shock-value diminishes.
Then again, there’s no replacement for natural talent, and the world will always be captivated by the next phenom ready to make their name known.
