New Zealand's former world golf number one Lydia Ko says her confidence has returned at just the right time.
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko Photo: Photosport NZ
Ko's back in New Zealand for next week's New Zealand Open, an LPGA sanctioned tournament for the first time, in Auckland.
It's been a difficult year for Ko whose slipped from world number one to eight, having failed to win an LPGA tournament in more than a year.
However her recent form suggests she could be on her way back to the top with two top three finishes in the past two weeks.
"It's been a frustrating past couple of months but it has just been nice to be playing well again.
"Finishing second in Indianapolis gave me a lot of confidence going into Evian (the fifth major of the year where she finished third). It's nice to be home but with golf it can change day to day but it's definitely nice to be coming into the national open with some good performances," Ko said.
Ko put her return to form down to a simple part of her game - she's making more birdies.
"When you're hitting good shots and giving yourself opportunities and making those putts you're able to make more birdies.
"I've made a few more birdies in the past couple of weeks than I did a month prior to that so it's the smaller differences."
Ko will host the New Zealand Women's Open at Windross Farm Golf Club, just south of Auckland, starting next Thursday.
-RNZ
