Lydia Ko has been paired with American Michelle Wie for her first venture into the professional golfing ranks tomorrow.
The duo are well aquainted with one another from their time competing among the amateur ranks, with Wie today taking to Twitter to voice her excitement at the news of their pairing.
"Excited to play with @Lko424 at her first tournament as a pro! #ifeelold," Wie said.
As a former teenage sensation, Wie enjoyed a similar path to success as Ko, before turning pro shortly before her 16th birthday in 2005.
So far she has failed to live up to the hype on the LPGA tour, where she has only won two tournaments since 2005.
Still just 16, Ko will line up alongside 69 other top golfers in the season-ending Titleholders' Championship in Naples, Florida.
The world's top 10 female golfers will all play, including the current world No 5, Ko.
Ko is excited ahead of the Florida tournament, having missed last year's event because of exams.
School commitments have interrupted her build-up once again, yet Ko says she squeezed in as much practice as she could.
"I had a lot of a study to catch up on for my exams and I practised as much golf as I could around that."
The break from golf was a handy freshener, but she's also found time to tweak an already world-class game.
"I've fine-tuned a few things. I'm looking forward to playing again."
For the first time, Ko can afford to look at the prize-pool and the US$700,000 (NZ$840,980) winner's cheque would make a handy first pay-day.
Ko has never missed a cut in a professional tournament and she won't miss this one either. There is no cut at the Titleholders tournament and all 70-players receive cheques.
There will be nerves, Ko said.
"I'm always nervous going into a big tournament, but it's worked out well so far. It's just another tournament and a good opportunity.
"I know that there will be a lot of expectation on me [as a professional] but I will just try to take it one tournament at a time and hopefully get off to a good start this week in Florida.
"Being the No 1 amateur in the world for a few years came with some pressure so that has helped prepare me for my pro career."
She's already won four professional tournaments, including her second Canadian Open and the New Zealand Open this year, but this will be different. The air of expectation has risen markedly.
Her amateur record was nothing short of remarkable, but backing that up as a professional will be tough.
She's been a professional in all but name for some time, but now it's official and she's rapt.
"I'm really excited. It has been a long time coming ... it is nice to finally be playing as a professional."
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