She’s So-Lyd Gold – world media go gaga over Ko

Lydia Ko was linked with greatness as the world golf media lapped up her latest remarkable achievements.

The young New Zealander’s ability to snare the player of the year award at such a tender – and record – age, was quickly put into perspective after her success yesterday.

‘‘Ko is still just 18, and she became the fourth player to go from rookie of the year one year to player of the year the next,’’ wrote ESPN.

‘‘The others on that list: Nancy Lopez, Beth Daniel and Annika Sorenstam.

‘‘Greats all, and Ko is well on her way to that same status.’’

Seeing off Korean Inbee Park’s challenge in the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship in Florida brought cash, awards and accolades for Ko.

She claimed the season-long points race, the Race to the CME Globe, and a $1.5 million bonus, the tour’s player of the year award and the tour’s money list award – the three major prizes – in a 2015 campaign that also saw he land her first major title.

‘‘So-Lyd Gold’’ screamed the headline on the Golf Channel’s homepage as it also ran the rule over Ko’s remarkable 2015.

It also ran a lengthy video interview with Ko where it highlighted the rare emotions she showed in being told she had, indeed, taken the player of the year honours from Park.

USA Today said, ‘‘Ko added to her list of youngest to do this and do that’’.

The paper described the final day’s action in Florida as ‘‘a wild, serious game of musical chairs’’ and marvelled at Ko’s ability to walk away with the year’s biggest haul.

The New York Times published a lengthy profile on Ko as the season-ending tournament unfolded. Headlined: Both Poised and Playful, Lydia Ko Finds Her Winning Balance, the story had this great line: ‘‘The only athlete this year to have accomplished more, and at a younger age, than Ko, 18, was a 3-year-old named American Pharoah,’’ a reference to the Triple Crown-winning thoroughbred.

‘‘To fully appreciate what makes Ko special, it helps to see her in person, because her charisma cannot be captured in the quick cutaway shots that make up televised golf coverage,’’ writer Karen Crouse said.

‘‘In the seconds before and after she hits, her face is locked in concentration, like that of a pirouetting dancer focused on her spotting point. She has the same expression as the next golfer to appear on the screen, and the next.

‘‘To put Ko’s precocity in perspective, Serena Williams was a month shy of her 20th birthday when she won her 10th professional tennis title. Roger Federer was 22. Tiger Woods was 23 when he won his 10th professional golf event worldwide, the same age as the swimmer Michael Phelps when he won his 10th Olympic gold medal.’’

Ko already has been named one of Time magazine’s Most Influential People.