New Zealand's world golf number one Lydia Ko says her Australian Open win yesterday will give her confidence to break through in the game's major championships this year.
World golf number one Lydia Ko. Photo: Photosport
Earlier this month 17-year-old Ko became golf's youngest world number one - male or female, and she'll be out to underline her ranking by winning major titles.
Last year she finished third in the PGA Championship and tied for eighth in the Evian Championship in France, and says yesterday's win on one of the toughest courses will give her the confidence to compete in the major events.
She flew into Christchurch last night to prepare for this week's New Zealand Women's Open at Clearwater, rather than chase a much bigger purse at the LPGA Tour event in Thailand.
After becoming the youngest ever winner of the Australian Open Ko says she would celebrate by coming home.
Patience the key
Ko scored her sixth LPGA victory with a two shot victory at Royal Melbourne, cementing her number one world ranking.
Ko posted a two under par 71 round after an all-the-way battle with South Korea's Amy Yang, and a 90-minute weather delay midway through the round.
The 17-year-old dropped a shot on the first hole of her final round but boosted her confidence with an eagle three at the third.
Ko says after a discussion with her coach she felt confident of being in contention on a difficult course.
"It's hard to make birdies but so easy to make bogeys or worse so yeah just patience and that's what I tried to have and you know I was talking to David yesterday and he said 'Lydia you just got to have that patience and just wait for the birdies to come."
She says she knew she would have further birdie opportunities on the back nine and patience got her through to victory.
Afterwards Ko was looking forward to returning to New Zealand. She's hoping to celebrate her fourth week as world number one with a victory this week at the New Zealand Open, at Clearwater in Christchurch.
