Due to Ko's tender years, when the New Zealander turned professional ahead of the 2014 season, she needed permission from the top brass to become a card-carrying tour member.
Usually the LPGA Tour requires players to be 18 but exemptions aren't unheard of and Ko, who turned 17 in April, was welcomed to the top women's circuit a few months prior with a wave of excitement.
Ko's victory, following a four-hole playoff, at yesterday's cash-rich CME Group Tour Championship in Florida saw her claim a US$500,000 winner's purse and a US$1 million bonus for finishing atop of the tour's order of merit, known as the Race to the CME Globe.
It was the biggest payday in women's golf, while she also netted another US$2 million in tournament earnings this year.
"This has been a big year, a roller-coaster ride. I've learnt so much this year, like these kind of playoffs - my first as a professional," Ko said. "I've been learning a lot. I think next year's going to be a fun year."
The scary thing about Ko is she has the potential to get a lot better. She practices like a demon, is ultra-consistent and is seemingly always near the top of the leaderboard in every tournament she plays.
"There is no perfection even if I shoot 10-under, I know I'm going to find a little mistake or a little bad putt," she said.
A major title is one of the few things Ko didn't achieve this year but it's hard to see how she won't find a way to win one in 2015 given how much confidence she would have taken from her rookie-of-the-year campaign this season.
The world No 3, who has never missed a cut in a professional tournament, set low expectations for herself this year, something which is part of her understated demeanour.
"I just said: 'Okay, go out there, have fun, have a couple of top-10s and just really learn more about the tour and what it is like to play on the tour, playing full-time'. That was just one of my biggest goals and to come off with three [tournament] wins, it's been an amazing year."
Ko said she planned to have a couple of weeks off before preparing for next year. She has managed a cyst in her wrist this season, which may require rest.
"Next year's a whole new year and everyone's playing great golf and everyone's going to be energized and really fresh for next year."
There will also be a spot of shopping to do after she promised her mother, Tina, a new bag, which she had picked out.
"She's done so much for me and I said I would get it for her," Ko said.
- By Daniel Richardson of NZME
