LPGA Tour: World no 1 Lydia Ko expecting tough challenge to replicate rookie season

Lydia Ko admits it could a struggle to replicate her record-breaking rookie season on the LPGA Tour, but is determined not to feel pressurised by being world No 1.

The 17-year-old registered three tour titles in her maiden season as a pro, following up victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic with further wins at the Marathon Classic and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

Further impressive displays at the Women’s PGA Championship and last month’s Coates Golf Championship lifted the New Zealander to the top of the rankings, something that still came as a surprise to Ko in terms of the speed in which she made it.

“I had such a good rookie year,” the teenager said. “It was more than I expected and more than I’d planned. It was kind of a dream come true, the season last year, finishing well and making it to the CME Group Tour Championship.

"I’m really lucky to be in this position, so I'm not trying to think about what’s going to come up next and just enjoy what’s happening right now.

"I go out to every tournament trip and have a good result there and not think about the rankings because, if somebody else plays really good and wins a couple of tournaments, it’s really out of my hands.

“To back it up with another great year is going to be tough, but I’ve set it off well with two top ten finishes so am just going to try and work my way up and give myself a lot of opportunities.” 

Icon status

The five-time LPGA Tour winner well and truly smashed Tiger Woods' record as the youngest world No 1, with Ko one of a series of teenage golfers to have excelled on the world stage in recent years. 

Although the two-time Canadian Women's Open champion would "love" to add a first major title in 2015, Ko is aware she needs to stay focused to keep her place at the top of the rankings. 

She added: "When you look at past No 1 players, they have had to be very consistent and have major wins and be top of the leader board a lot of the time, so I think consistency is really important.

"When I have kids or juniors come up to me and say 'oh you're my idol' it makes me feel very proud. Hearing those things makes me feel like I need to become a better player.

"It’s been my goal since I first started and I’ve never would’ve thought I would win a major at the age of eighteen or whatever."

Tough targets

Whilst talk will be about whether Ko can break Morgan Pressel’s record as the youngest ever women’s major winner at April’s ANA Inspiration, the New Zealander has several tournaments to prepare at before appearing at Mission Hills.

The teenager will make her second appearance at next month’s star-studded HSBC Women’s Champions event, looking to build on to last year’s visit to Singapore.

Ko ended 15th last time around, eight strokes adrift of Paula Creamer, but is confident of challenging for victory this time around.

“I felt like last year I did leave a couple of shots behind, so I do feel like I can win. Being my second time playing here, I’ll be a little bit more used to the course.

“It can get a little breezy there and because of the big greens you really have to shoot for small targets, so I’ll be going out there trying to play good golf.

“The world’s best players are there, so everybody is going to be super excited and hoping to have a trophy at the end of the week.

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