New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has been listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine on her 17th birthday.
The New Zealander is one of just five sportspeople included on the magazine's annual list.
After a decorated amateur career, Ko has climbed to fourth in the world rankings, helped by winning five professional tournaments.
She earns a place on a list that features global household names such as Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Beyonce, Hillary Clinton, and Vladimir Putin.
A tribute to Ko was written by golfing great Annika Sorenstam, who described the Kiwi teenager as a the leader of the sport's youth movement.
"Lydia Ko is exceptionally talented, mature beyond her years and well liked by golf fans and competitors alike," Sorenstam wrote.
"She is responsible for sparking increased interest in our sport not just in her native South Korea and adopted homeland of New Zealand but also among juniors across the globe.
"Her early, record-breaking success brings with it incredible pressure and she's doing a fantastic job handling the many responsibilities that accompany stardom. Her future is very bright."
Ko joins Sorenstam as one of four LPGA professionals to ever be included on the list.
This year's group features a record 41 women.
The other sportspeople are Portugal soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo and a trio of American professionals - Serena Williams (tennis), Jason Collins (basketball) and Richard Sherman (NFL).
