Ko feeling relaxed chasing major No.2

World No.1 Lydia Ko says the pressure if off heading to this week's first major of the season - the ANA Inspiration - having already broken her major duck.

New Zealand World No.1 Lydia Ko

World No.1 Lydia Ko says the pressure is off heading to this week's first major of the season. (AAP)

With a major title already tucked under her belt, world No.1 Lydia Ko is hoping this week's ANA Inspiration will be a little more fun than her previous major experiences.

The New Zealand 18-year-old secured her maiden major title at last year's Evian Championship, and coming off a win at last week's Kia Classic, could very well be in the hunt for her second successive major crown at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

"I'm just going to look at it as any other four-day event and just have fun out there and hopefully play some good golf," Ko said ahead of Thursday's opening round of the first major women's championship of 2016.

Along with last week's success, Ko also has a pair of runner-up finishes and a tie for third in the five tournaments she has played this year.

Ko rose to the occasion at last year's Evian Championship at Evian-Les-Bains, France, in her final chance to surpass Morgan Pressel as youngest woman to win a major.

"Going into Evian I think was the most pressure. It was the last event, the last time I could possibly break Morgan's record," she said. "It's all behind us."

The top 19 ranked players in the world are in the field, including world No.2 Park In-bee, the 2013 winner at Mission Hills, and top-ranked Australian Minjee Lee, the world No.17.

The 19-year-old has been a solid performer on the LPGA Tour this year, with six top 25 finishes in the seven events she has contested.

Lee has shot even-par or better in every round of her past two events on tour, and has collected over $US120,000 in prizemoney so far in 2016.

For Park, who completed her career grand slam by winning her seventh major at the Women's British Open last year, this weekend represents the start of a six-month stretch that includes five majors, the Rio Olympics and the International Crown.

"This year's definitely going to be a very historical year and a very special year for women's golf," said Park.

"There are a big seven tournaments that are kind of in my mind and in a lot of the girls' minds. So I think it's going to be a very interesting year."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world