Kiwi legend inspiring Ko before open campaign
Lydia Ko is out to win her maiden British Open at a course which holds a special place in New Zealand sporting history.
Fifty-five years ago at the Royal Lytham and St. Annes course, Sir Bob Charles became the first New Zealander to claim a golf major when he successfully won a 36-hole playoff to lift the Claret Jug.
Ko, the only Kiwi to win multiple majors, has said to be able to win at the Lancashire course would be an awesome experience.
“My playing partner said as soon as you get out of the men’s locker room, you see a big picture of Sir Bob,” Ko said on the eve of the event.
“It’s nice to come to a place where probably the best golfer from New Zealand and one of the best players in the world, in history . . . to come back where he’s won is pretty cool.
“For me to maybe play well and join him, I think that would be an awesome experience,” Ko added.
“He’s an amazing person. One big role model and he’s definitely grown golf back home for us.”
Royal Lytham and St. Annes has hosted the men’s British Open 11 times and will host its fifth women’s major. Scot Catriona Matthew won the last time it was there in 2009.
Ko said the course was tricky but it wasn’t causing her any concerns ahead of the season’s fourth and penultimate major.
“It’s definitely great to be here and play some links golf which we normally don’t get to play,” she said. “It’s pretty tricky . . . it’s fun tricky. It’s not annoying or tricked up in ways but I need to keep out of the bunkers. I think it’s going to be a great week.”
Ko missed the cut at last week’s Scottish Open, just the sixth time in her professional career that she failed to play the weekend. The 21-year-old has one top five at the British Open, a third placing at the 2015 event and was leading amateur in 2012 and 2013.
She will play alongside Japan’s Mamiko Higa and American Mo Martin in the opening round, teeing off at 11.38pm NZT.