Golf genius
Teen star from New Zealand claims fourth victory in professional events.
Teen star Lydia Ko ran away with the Canadian Women’s Open — again.
The 16-year-old New Zealand amateur successfully defended her title on Sunday, closing with a six-under 64 at Royal Mayfair for a five- stroke victory and her fourth win in professional events.
“I’m pretty surprised, but I played some really good golf out there, so I was really happy about that,” Ko said. “My goal today was to shoot five under and just play my own game. If somebody else shot better, then I can’t do anything about it.”
Last year at the Vancouver Golf Club in British Columbia, the South Korean-born Ko became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at 15 years, four months, two days. She also was the fifth amateur winner in tour history and the first since JoAnne Carner in the 1969 Burdine’s Invitational.
“I never really thought about making history and all that,” Ko said.
Ko’s other victories in professional events came last year in the Australian tour’s New South Wales Open and this year in the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open. Projected to jump from 19th to seventh in the world rankings, she has played 14 LPGA Tour events the past two seasons, making the cut in every tournament. She also won the US Women’s Amateur last summer.
Ko was again asked about turning professional. “I’ve got some people above me like my mom and dad, they’re the boss,” Ko said. “They’re going to help me to make the right decision and to turn pro at what time. I think as I’m only 16 still, it’s quite hard to make huge decisions. When I turn pro it’s like a job. Money is all about it and everything like that, every shot counts. Yeah, I think my parents and New Zealand golf they’re all going to have a say, and hopefully we’ll make a really good decision on when I will turn pro.”
She bristled when asked about losing out on another $300,000 pay day.“I don’t care! I don’t care!” Ko said. “I can say that a couple times more, if you want.”
Ko had a 15-under 265 total after opening with rounds of 65, 69 and 67.
A stroke behind Caroline Hedwall entering the final round, Ko birdied five of the first eight holes and reached 15 under with a birdie on the parfour 12th. She dropped a stroke on the par-four 13th, parred the next four and closed with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th.