Amateur Ko still hasn’t been caught
The Kiwi teen who doesn’t earn paycheques leads a field of elite pros at the Canadian Women’s Open
At first glance it may seem a little unfair … a group of seasoned LPGA veterans busy hunting a 15-year-old kid.
But a little perspective people. The teen in question is Lydia Ko, the amateur phenom from New Zealand who is hanging onto a one-shot lead as the $2 million 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open heads into its final 18 holes today at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam.
Ko shot an even-par 72 Saturday for a 54-hole total of 8-under 208. She owns a one-shot lead over a gang of four that consists of American Stacy Lewis and Koreans Jiyai Shin, Inbee Park and birthday girl Chella Choi.
But if you think Ko, who three-putted the par-four 18th for one of her three bogeys Saturday, is a churning cauldron of nerves as she awaits today’s showdown, you’d be dead wrong.
“It wasn’t [nerve-racking],” said Ko, who started Saturday tied for the lead with Choi at eight under.
“I wasn’t that nervous,” added the teen, who was closely scrutinized by the gallery estimated to be 15,000 strong.
“I don’t think I was more nervous today than other days. Today I tried to have more fun, but my score wasn’t as good. I mean, 72 is better than 73 or any other score, so I’m pretty happy.
“It’s good to stay at the top of the leaderboard, but my first goal was to make the cut and hopefully top 15 or something. But to be up there is an honour, especially playing against the world’s best.”
And make no mistake, for the world’s best, Ko is a target.
Lewis, the current 2012 LPGA Tour money leader, had this to say about the Kiwi after she’d just fired the day’s low round, a six-under par 66. Lewis was asked point-blank if there’s extra motivation to make sure, as professionals, that Ko doesn’t win.
“Yeah, Suzann [Norway’s Suzann Pettersen] and I were talking about it yesterday, and it is kind of because we’re working, this is our job and we’re working full-time on it. It’s not supposed to be her job, and yet she’s beating us.
“I think it’s good for the game. She’s obviously playing well. She won an Australian LPGA event earlier in the year and I played with her in Australia. She’s solid. She hits it good, she putts it good and she’s rolling with confidence.”
Ko was asked about having the likes of Lewis nipping at her heels. She said it was all part of the experience and the fun.
“If I don’t win tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed,” she said. “If I do win, I’ll take it like an honour.”
An honour indeed. This is no secondrate leaderboard.
Shin came in with a three-under 69 Saturday to get to seven under for the tournament. Park was two-under 70. Only Choi, who turned 22 Saturday, had a hint of trouble, settling for a one-over 73 that left her at seven under.
Park probably summed the situation up best.
“Tomorrow’s going to be a shootout because there are so many people in contention,” she said.
As for Ko, she said: “I heard she was a really good player and some of these young amateurs can play golf. It’s a big surprise [to see Ko leading], but I would be nervous if I was her. So we’ll see tomorrow.”
Pressure could be applied to Ko by a number of players today. Besides the group of four, Americans Sydnee Michaels and Moira Dunn are at 211 after a 69 and 72 respectively.
And Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist has momentum. She’s in a group of five at 212 after draining a 60-foot putt for birdie on No. 18 to drop to four-under 68 for the round.
Lewis looks locked in. The four-year LPGA veteran from The Woodlands, Texas, also has a brief but solid track record in Canada.
She has tied for second in the two Canadian tournaments she’s played, the 2011 Canadian Open near Montreal and this year’s Manulife Classic in Waterloo, Ont., in June.
“I’ve been right up there or a shot back,” she said. “I think I shot 66 in the final round last year. I seem to play well in Canada, so I like coming back here, and hopefully I can keep that momentum going tomorrow.”
Lewis and the rest of this field will need momentum today. This course has been a test all week and the final six holes have been particularly challenging.
“I’ve never played a course that has as many par-fours to finish,” Lewis said, referring to holes 14 through 18.
“You’ve got 10,” a 515-yard par five that she eagled Saturday, “and 13 [a 493-yard, par five] and you can make some birdies there. Then, 14 on in you’ve got to hit fairways and hit your shots. You make a birdie, great. But if you make all fours, I think you’ll be up near the top of the leaderboard at the end of the week.”
The end of the week starts today at 7:40 a.m. with groups of three hitting on both the first and 10th tees.
Park, Choi and Michaels go off No. 1 at 9:30 a.m. Ko, Lewis and Shin tee it up there 10 minutes later.
Expect fireworks.
“It’s good to stay at the top of the leaderboard, but my first goal was to make the cut and hopefully top 15 or something. ”
— LYDIA KO
LPGA GOLFER