5 Mar 2015

Lydia going for three in a row

12:41 pm on 5 March 2015

New Zealand's world golf number one Lydia Ko admits there is plenty of expectation for her to win a third straight title when she tees off later today in the opening round of the HSBC womens championship in Singapore.

Ko is looking for her third win in as many weeks after winning the Australian Open two weeks ago and then her national championship, the Women's New Zealand Open this past week.

John Key presents Lydia Ko with the trophy.

John Key presents Lydia Ko with the trophy. Photo: RNZ / Katy Gosset

She says she's had such a great last two weeks, so obviously there's expectation, you're world number one and a lot of people think you should win every week because you are, but that's really not the case.

The city state's steamy temperatures and a star-studded field which boasts 19 of the top-20 ranked players will present a serious challenge for 17-year-old Ko, but at least she doesn't have to worry about steamed up glasses, having switched to contact lenses at the start of this year.

Packed galleries followed world golf number one Lydia Ko around Clearwater again

Packed galleries followed world golf number one Lydia Ko around Clearwater again Photo: Photosport

Ko says keeping cool in Singapore is the big thing... saying you can be playing good golf and then just the heat gets to you and start making a couple mistakes.

She says there are some birdie opportunities, but there are some really tough holes out there, so she'll be trying to balance everything out.

Ko's off-the-course demands will increase significantly when she starts studying for a degree in psychology at Korea University in Seoul later this year.

Ko has now won 10 career professional events.

Ko has played in 45 LPGA events in her young career and has yet to miss a cut. She has 25 top-10s.

She has earned $3.2 million in her career compared to fellow young winner Lexi Thompson who has earned $3.7 million in 96 starts, 77 cuts made.

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