[Yonhap News Photo]
At the tender age of 19, Lydia Ko has been putting together a Hall-of-Fame career on the LPGA Tour. The world No. 1, however, said she feels she still has room to grow.
"I feel like there are parts of the game that I can still improve, even though I am the No. 1 player in the world," Ko said at a press conference held prior to the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship at Sky 72 Golf & Resort's Ocean Course, next to Incheon International Airport. It's the only LPGA Tour event in South Korea each year.
"I've been working to get more consistent," added Ko, a Korean-born Kiwi with 14 career LPGA wins, including two majors. "And consistency is the biggest thing about playing on the tour for the whole season."
That seems to be almost false modesty, if you consider Ko's track record. This year, she has won four times, including her second career major at the ANA Inspiration, and has posted 13 top 10s in 20 events played, the highest percentage on the tour this year.
Ko also leads the money list and scoring average, and is second behind Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand in the Player of the Year points race, 251 to 247. Ko was the 2015 Player of the Year.
There are five tournaments left after this week, and even as the competition for the top individual honor is going down to the wire, Ko said her focus this week and beyond will be on having fun.
"If I can keep playing consistently and keep shooting good scores, maybe I will have that chance again to win the Player of the Year," she said. "I need to just enjoy it. It's been pretty cool to be in the front row seat. I am very fortunate to be in that position to go for the Player of the Year again."
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
