It's all happening for Lydia Ko

By Paul Gueorgieff, editor Golfer Pacific

It’s all been a bit hard to believe for the last couple of months, admits Lydia Ko.

In a stretch of less than seven weeks the New Zealand golf star racked up wins at the Olympic Games, the Women’s Open in Scotland, a Ladies’ Professional Golfers’ Association (LPGA) event in the United States and induction into the LPGA’s hall of fame.

The latest of those wins came at the $US2 million Queen City Championship at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, in the United States last month.

Reflecting on that outstanding streak of top form, Ko used a word that means like a dream, not seeming real.

``It's been pretty surreal,'' Ko said at her press conference after the Queen City Championship.

Ko said gaining the one additional win needed for entry into the LPGA's hall of fame had played on her mind constantly.

``I think the closer you get, I think in ways doubts come into your mind and you

never know like, oh, what if I am that one point away and it never happens,'' she continued.

``For the most part I think I was able to handle the situation pretty well.

``Never in a million years would I have guessed that I now would've gone into the hall of fame through winning the gold in Paris and then winning my first major since 2016 at the AIG Women's Open.''

Ko said her form in Europe, which included a solid ninth in the Scottish Open, was a game changer.

``The European swing was some of the best golf I had played. I was very grateful for that span of weeks.''

Ko was at her very best form in the Queen City Championship. She carded only one bogey in the four rounds, hit 51 or 56 fairways for scores of 67, 66, 69 and 63. That made for a total of 23 under par which was the second best of her career.

``I played really solid on the first day and just kept giving myself a lot of

good opportunities. Even though there are some tougher holes out here at TPC River's Bend I felt really comfortable out there.''

Ko went into the final round two shots behind the leader Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and even surprised herself at what she accomplished.

``I wanted to post a good score today to kind of give myself a good run at it. I wouldn't have guessed coming into today that I was going to shoot nine under. To be able to do that is definitely a cool way to cap off this week.''

A reporter said Ko made it look easy.

``I don't think it's ever easy. You know, you could win by 10 strokes and still never feel like it was an easy round. I know that I'm playing alongside the best

female golfers and I've just got to focus until that last putt drops on the last hole.

``I just want to give it my all. My ball striking has been a part of my game that I feel like has improved a lot and something that I'm more and more comfortable with,especially coming down the stretch when there are big things on the line.

``For that to be better I think that takes a little stress off my short game. It goes hand in hand, because when your ball striking is good you feel like you're not putting or chipping as well. I think I would rather that way around than feeling

stressed to make up and down on half of the holes that I play.''

Ko paid compliments to Thitikul who held second.

``I knew she was young, but she's so mature.

She's a name that we've heard for a really long time, teen

phenomenon. I mean, she's so impressive. I've been able to play

alongside her the last three years she's been on tour. She

hits the ball a long way and she has such good composure

out there.

``I remember in Arkansas we played the first round or the second round

together and she gave me a hug and said something

along the lines of I know it hasn't been the way that I wanted to end last year, my season but you're somebody I really look up to.

``That meant a lot to me. We're still competing and still

hoping that I'm going to be the one that's hoisting the

trophy, and as competitors for her to say something like

that, it means a lot.''

Ko, 27, has previously said she would retire at the age of 30. Those thoughts are now on hold.

``I don't know when that moment is right now. I enjoyed these past three weeks and it was great being home and not to live out of my suitcase. While I'm competitively playing it's good to have goals. The career grand slam seems too far out there, but what has happened the past couple months have been that extent of craziness I guess.

``So I just wanted to set a goal that was something that I can

work towards and whether that's happens or not isn't as

important. It's just more the drive for me to keep wanting to

put myself in contention and hopefully be the one holding

the trophy at the end of the week more and more after this

week as well.