Young Kiwi star sticks up for Ko
Leading Kiwi amateur Amelia Garvey has stuck up for the underfire Lydia Ko, urging New Zealanders to give her a break.
Former world No 1 Ko has copped criticism after missing the cut at the Women’s British Open last weekend at 12-over-par. It is the second straight major she has failed to make the cut at after another miserable showing at July’s Evian Championship in France.
Her former coach, Englishman David Leadbetter, told Radio Sport this week, Ko’s overbearing parents were having a detrimental effect on her play and she needed to control her own career.
The 22-year-old has slumped to 24th in the rankings and hasn’t won an LPGA event since the Mediheal Championship in April 2018.
Us-based Garvey, who is on scholarship at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, felt for Ko, who she first played against in 2011 as an 11-year-old.
Ko served as inspiration for Garvey, who is aiming to follow in her footsteps in the coming years and join her professionally on the LPGA.
Christchurch-raised Garvey, 19, is tipped for a bright future, finishing second at June’s British Amateur, losing the matchplay final.
Ko responded to her detractors, posting on Instagram: ‘‘Thank you to the haters for making me stronger and push me to be the best version of myself . . . and thank you to each and every one that have supported me, your love makes a bump feel like a smooth ride.’’
Garvey sent Ko a text of support after seeing the post and said New Zealanders should be building Ko up, rather than tearing her down.
‘‘It’s hard to hear people giving up on her a little bit because I know we’re Kiwis and we should have each other’s backs through the good and the bad,’’ Garvey told Stuff.
‘‘She’s the only New Zealander out there on tour for women, so she’s doing our country proud and she’s definitely doing me proud and I know a lot of other people.’’
Ko turned heads with her brilliant performances early in her career, becoming the youngest to win on the LPGA Tour (15), the youngest world No 1 in history (17), and youngest women’s major winner (18).
Over the past two years, her game has stagnated, being overtaken by the next wave of talented women’s golfers.
The depth in women’s golf had improved with an influx of outstanding Asian players establishing themselves on the tour. Women’s golf had also become a power-hitting game, an element Ko lacks.
Garvey said Ko was held in high regard on the LPGA Tour and women’s golf community. Even though Ko wasn’t getting the results she desired, Garvey was in awe of the way she carried herself at tournaments.
‘‘She’s still one of the nicest girls on tour. Even if she’s gone and shot 80 she’ll still have a smile on her face.
‘‘I think we can learn a lot from her, what she’s going through right now.’’
Ko had opened the way for a generation of young Kiwi women’s golfers to get into the sport through her achievements.
‘‘I’ve got photos from way back with her. It’s amazing now I can even call her one of my friends.
‘‘She loves New Zealand and she loves helping out girls in New Zealand golf. She’s an awesome asset to our country.’’