Ko excited for Handa NZ Women’s Open

07 Feb 2012

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for 14-year-old Lydia Ko and the golfing prodigy is still getting her head around becoming the youngest winner in golf history.

Ko, who finished as the leading amateur at the Australian Masters on the weekend in a share of 32nd place, has been hounded by media both home and abroad since her record breaking win at the NSW Open.

Rewriting the record books has become part and parcel of her amateur career and the significance of her win of the pro event hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

“No, not really, I haven’t had time to think deeply about my achievement, at this stage it’s just another tournament,” said Ko from the Gold Coast.

As she prepares for the Australian Open this week Ko is not fazed to be regarded as one of the favourites for the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch from February 17 – 19.

After being the World No.1 amateur for almost a year now Ko is familiar with the pressure and she has her own ways of dealing with the expectation.

“I don’t really think about it, although being asked about expectations and winning all the time, makes me a bit nervous.

“I guess I will get used to it, and I know when I am around my team I will be ok. I will just play my game and try and do New Zealand proud.”

Gregg Thorpe, the New Zealand Golf Talent and Coach Development Manager, believes that Ko has handled the progression in the ranks of golf to the elite level superbly.

“For some players it can take a year or two to adapt to the elevated level of professional competition, but it’s never really fazed Lydia, “ said Thorpe.

“She now has two years of experience at this level, and this experience along with her superbly consistent golf game, is helping her to forge a path like no other.”

Ko finished fourth and tied seventh at Pegasus in 2010 and 2011 respectively to amaze the international field. When she finished seventh, and leading amateur,
in 2010 the champion Laura Davies was 36 years her senior.

Davies quipped at the evening presentation: “12 years old? Be a good girl then, go home and play with your dolls…isn’t it past your bed time?”

Two years on and Ko is just getting better. She feels the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club suits her eye and is comfortable there.

“It’s not too long, it’s kind of flat and there are not too many hard tee shots that I see in my eyes. I like it when the wind blows because I control the ball well.

Her coach Guy Wilson added: “She is so consistent, and she doesn’t stray much in the wind. When the course fights back she holds strong.

“The afternoon north easterly is Lydia’s friend. Its beats everyone up but she can handle it.”

Ko is flying straight from Melbourne after the Australian Open to Christchurch on Monday.

“Since its only three rounds I get another day either rest or practice and I’ve played the course a lot, it won’t take me long to get up to speed.”

While all the talk is about lowering the expectation on the young superstar Ko would naturally love to become the first New Zealander to win the national open.

“It would be an honour, but at this stage, I am just looking to make the cut and shoot good numbers, I can’t control what the other players shoot.”

Source NZ Golf

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