WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Top-ranked amateur Lydia Ko has chosen an unusual method to announce her decision to turn professional at the age of 16 and after foregoing more than $1 million in potential prize money. Vlade Divac Lakers Jersey . Ko, ranked No. 4 in the world, chose not to hold a formal news conference but released a short, scripted video in which she debates the merits of turning professional with the All Blacks rugby player Israel Dagg. The video shows Dagg losing to Ko in a golf match, then telling her: "If you can beat me, then you can definitely handle the pressure of going pro. It must be time now." Ko nods and replies: "Okay, Ill do it ... right now, right this second." Ko alerted her Twitter followers to the video and her decision by posting "made a monumental decision today with a little help from my @AllBlacks friend @Izzy--Dagg #LOVEGolf." New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said Ko "was reluctant to hold a traditional press conference" because she "didnt want to make a big fuss about news that had already been reported in the media in recent weeks." "This is a very momentous day for Lydia and we are so thrilled that she has chosen such a unique and entertaining way to share her news with her fans today," Murphy said. "She has also been very busy studying for exams and wanted to make this announcement in a different way." The LPGA Tour confirmed Oct. 10 that it received a petition from Ko asking that it waive its minimum age requirement of 18. Ko was born in South Korea but moved to New Zealand with her parents and took up golf aged five. She first took lessons at Aucklands Pupuke Golf Club from professional Guy Wilson, who has been her coach ever since. She was the worlds leading female amateur in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and became the youngest person, male or female, to win a professional tournament when she won the 2012 New South Wales Open at the age of 14. That record has since been broken. Ko was also the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament when, aged 15, she won the 2012 Canadian Open, a title she defended this year. She has yet to miss a cut in 23 professional tournaments. After finishing runnerup at the Evian Championships in France in July, Ko hinted that she would be turning professional but said she wished to complete exams before making any announcement. She is expected to play for the first time as a professional in the LPGAs season-ending event in Florida. Murphy said Kos career as an amateur "has been phenomenal." "Her amateur record ranks right up there among the greats of the game," Murphy said. "She has won four (tour) titles, claimed the U.S. and Australian Amateur titles, climbed to No.4 on the World Rankings and has been the World No. 1 amateur for more than two years without ever losing that title. "That is a record that is unlikely to be matched by a 16-year-old ever again." Kobe Bryant Jersey .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/James-Worthy-Jersey/ . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss the NFL and Ray Rice, questionable coaching decisions, FIFA and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the National Football League, which may sound familiar. The monster-truck league smashes anything in its path, from brain damage to PEDs to painkiller addiction, but this time its something else. Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocked his fiancee unconscious in an elevator in the off-season. Still, the Ravens defended him. The NFLs typical suspension for drugs of any kind is four games; it just gave Minnesota special teams coach Mike Preifer three games for homophobic remarks. Knock a woman out? Two games. Pathetic. The only thing worse than the NFLs dismissal of domestic violence was the debate that followed, in which so many sad men made excuses for Rice. But then, after all, the NFL and the Ravens pretty much did it first. Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is down to Chris Jones, the first year coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, for calling one of the most outrageous gambles Ive seen in more than 40 years of watching the Canadian Football League. Now I love a good, educated gamble. This just wasnt one of them. With time running out late in the first half against the Calgary Stampeders, rather than punt the ball, jones called a fake end around - from his own end zone. Needless to say, the Eskimos didnt make the long first down, turned the ball over, annd one play later, bang, Calgary scored a touchdown, and guess what, the Stampeders wound up winning by less than the score of that TD. Elgin Baylor Jersey. . Now I like Chris Jones and I think hes going to be a terrific CFL head coach. But theres no place for high school logic in professional football. Cathal Kelly, Globe and Mail My thumb is up to FIFA - a rarity - for their refusal this week to pull the 2018 World Cup away from Russia. It would be satisfying to do so, and would please many of their critics. But, as footballs ruling body pointed out, no boycott has ever stopped a war and sports are an enormously positive force for change. The biggest tournament in the world will be a useful carrot in the coming years. Why apply the stick now? There will be time to reconsider this decision, but not until Russia has been forced to think hard about what it wants more in the international community - territorial gains or friends in the game. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to todays Baseball Hall of Fame class that numbers six inductees - former players Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas - and former managers Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox. In some of the coming years, we assume itll be tough to elect one Hall of Fame member, never mind six, because so many votes will be held back from candidates known to have used or thought to have used steroids. Ironic then, to see a class of six, requiring speeches shorter than usual. Baseball celebrates its best in a big way--while it can, before it cant. 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