Can Lydia Ko add to a great week for New Zealand golf?
Lydia Ko -during practice this week – photo Darren Carroll USGA
For a nation of its relatively small population New Zealand has boxed well above its weight in terms of its success in international golf.
Four players throughout its history have won major titles, namely Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell, Lydia Ko (2) and in this past week Steve Alker has done so in his age group when successful at the Senior PGA Championship.
It may well be that having won a total of five throughout its history, New Zealand golf could add a second in a week when Lydia Ko takes to the fairways of the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina in this week’s US Women’s Open.
Ko is currently ranked the 3rd highest ranked woman golfer in the world, a remarkable rebound after slipping outside the top 50 two years ago having her back close to the level of golf she was producing when winning the second of her two majors six years ago.
She went winless for nearly three years between April of 2018 and April of 2021 but not only have there been two wins since but it has been the consistency she was known for previously that has returned and her climb back up the rankings has been impressive and gutsy to say the least.
In her pre-event press conference today, however, Ko talked about needing to search for even greater consistency.
“Obviously I started off my season well winning the second tournament of the year, and I think that was the earliest win I’d had in a season,” said the still only 25 year old. “But I feel like there’s been ups and downs, and I still feel like there’s a lot of things to work on just to be a little bit more consistent throughout my game.
“I don’t think anyone ever feels like they’re perfect. There’s always something that could improve, and even when things are going well.
“It’s nice to kind of have my attention focused on the things that I want to work on, and hopefully the things that I was able to will work this week.
“Sometimes the ball-striking is great and the putting is not as good and vice versa. Just trying to get that more polished, and I think that way it gives less pressure on the other things, so it’s more like driving consistency would be probably my biggest thing.
“We’ve been trying to work on that, and I think the more times I keep putting those repetitions in, they’re all things that add up. And it might not show right away, but I know that all those reps count.”
Ko likes what she sees of the Pine Needles layout thus far further enhancing her prospects of a good week.
“I’ve already played a couple times out there. It’s nice. It’s so close to Pinehurst, but I feel like it’s different to Pinehurst.”
“It’s just a good mix. I knew that it was going to be a great golf course, obviously hosted so many big championships here, but I didn’t really know what it was going to be like and how my game would have to play around here.
“But it’s fun; I don’t think it suits one type of player and not someone that’s super long or super short. At the end of the day, especially at the U.S. Open, I think you do have to drive it really well, and with these greens having a lot of falloffs, having good ball-striking and giving yourself even 30- to 40-footers for birdies is not the end of the world.”
There has been a lot of talk about the fact that this week women’s golf plays for its richest ever purse (US$10 million) and Ko was asked her thoughts on being able to play for such a huge purse.
“At the end of the day it comes with results, right? Like, one of that matters if your results don’t follow.
“Those are like the extra bonuses and perks for us, I think. As an athlete and as a female athlete, to be able to play for this kind of money, I think it’s — not even just for my generation, but for the future generations.
“And when you see like what our founders played for, yes, the cost of living might have been cheaper than now, but still, I think we’re very — we should be very grateful, but at the same time I think there’s still a ways to go, and I’m excited where women’s golf and golf is trending.
“I think we’re all players and we’re here at one of the most prestigious events of the year at one of the biggest major championships, and I think that in itself is a win. Sometimes I think purse can really get in the way of what the actual meaning of this event is.
“I think for all of us that are in the field, we’re just excited to play the Women’s Open, and obviously for us to play for that amount of money, it’s an extra bonus.”
Ko has a morning tee time (9.05) on Thursday where she will play with Jessica Korda and Hannah Green
