Lydia Ko Praises New Generation As LPGA Players Continue To Impress: “Not So Rookies”

Mar 19, 2026, 6:38 AM CUT

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Lydia Ko has seen it all on the LPGA Tour. But the new generation of rookies has left even the veterans impressed. Ahead of the Fortinet Founders Cup, Ko said today's rookies are built differently, calling them 'not so rookies'.

During the press conference at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, Menlo Park, California, Ko revealed that she played with Ingrid Lindblad and Emma Spitz the day before. And even the practice rounds with them impressed Ko.

“I'm excited throughout this season to get to know a few of them better,” the 28-year-old said. “The last couple years, we've noticed that rookies are not so rookies. They are very good. A lot of first-time winners and very competitive for the Rookie of the Year.”

AIG Women s Open 2025 Lydia Ko NZL in action during the second round of the AIG Women s Open 2025, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales. 01/08/2025 Picture: Golffile Phil Inglis All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Phil Inglis Porthcawl Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Bridgend Wales Copyright: xPhilxInglisx *EDI*

The influx of new talent adds valuable diversity to the tour, which is crucial for the sport's growth.There are 25 rookies in the field. And this isn't the first time the field has been dominated by them. Earlier this month at Blue Bay, there were 22 rookies on the field.

Of course, with her 13 years of experience, Ko still has a massive advantage over the rookies. But she still needs to be cautious.

“The new up-and-coming players that are just graduating high school and going from junior golf straight to pro or coming from collegiate golf, they are all very good,” Ko told the media at the pre-tournament press conference for the Fortinet Founders Cup.

The reason Ko brings this up takes us back to the class of 2025. In the 75 years of the LPGA Tour, the record for most rookie winners in a season was seven. In 2025, six different rookie winners emerged, a feat we've not seen since 2015.

“So the experience is a little different, but I think the skill set, like it's really hard to say that they are not as good as somebody that's been on tour longer.”

Despite their inexperience, these rookies pose a significant threat to the tour's veterans. Many rookies have won professional tournaments in the past. And that includes Ko herself.

Should Lydia Ko Be Wary of the Rookies at the Fortinet Founders Cup?

Back in 2012, even before she turned 16, Ko won the Canadian Women’s Open and defended the win with another one the next year. Later in 2014, she turned professional before turning 18. She made the decision right after securing the second spot at the 2013 Evian Championship. And in her rookie season, Lydia Ko won three LPGA Tour events.

The LPGA Tour number one, Jeeno Thitikul, is another example of a strong rookie. After turning professional in 2022, she won two events in her rookie season. A year later, Hae Ran Ryu won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and Rose Zhang won the Mizuho Americas Open as rookies.

Whether a rookie can win the Fortinet Founders Cup is uncertain, but the new generation has clearly caught the attention of the entire tour.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar