Ko opts to play NZ Open, rebuffing big Thai purse

LYDIA KO will play in the New Zealand Women’s Open.

It is understood the 17-year-old and her team has opted to play a sixth straight New Zealand Open rather than chase a much bigger purse in Thailand at an LPGA Tour tournament run by her management team, IMG.

Details are yet to be made final but several sources say an announcement is expected this week, and as early as today.

New Zealand Golf would not comment last night. As soon as the dates for the 2015 tournament – to be played at Christchurch’s Clearwater Golf Course – were announced, speculation started over whether Ko would play.

It is likely to be a debate that raises its head each year now.

Does Ko play the comparatively small-fry New Zealand Open, or chase world ranking points and money at an LPGA Tour event?

This year’s she has chosen home and will be the main drawcard for the 54-hole event, from February 27 till March 1.

Team Ko and NZ Golf spoke at the conclusion of the LPGA Tour season and when Ko told NZ Golf she wanted to go back to her new home in Florida to think it over, it did not look good for the Christchurch event.

NZ Golf boss Dean Murphy consistently said he was hopeful but not confident. ‘‘We have to remain realistic’’ was a well-used line, seemingly to keep expectations low. Most predicted Ko would favour the Thailand event.

But she has not and instead will tee off in Christchurch, more than likely as the bookies’ favourite as well as the gallery’s.

Ko has always said she wants to play every New Zealand Open, but was aware conflicts might make that tough, or even impossible. It is a major fillip for the event. Ko is the difference between thousands of fans turning up and a handful.

Organisers say the $335,000 tournament could still be a success without Ko, but she is the drawcard. Even without her, the standard will be high, but only the most keen of women’s golf fans would have known many of the field by name. Ko has played in the past five New Zealand Opens, first appearing in the tournament as a 12-year-old. Even then she drew some of the biggest crowds on her way to finishing in a tie for seventh. She won the 2013 tournament as an amateur and was upset by a single shot by Korea’s Mi Hyuang Lee this year.

She has never finished worse than 17th and while she is the favourite to add a second New Zealand Open prize to her growing trophy collection, her decision to play in Christchurch means the New Zealand Open is the big winner.