It will take a lot more than an earthquake to throw Lydia Ko off her game.
Even an earthquake can’t stop Lydia Ko from defending New Zealand Women’s Open title
Despite an earthquake that shook Clearwater Golf Club and the surrounding Christchurch area just minuted before her tee time, Lydia Ko wins the New Zealand Women’s Open for the third time in four tries.
Martin Hunter/Getty Images
The world No. 1 teed off in Sunday’s final round of the New Zealand Women’s Open some 10 minutes after a magnitude 5.8 trembler rocked the Christchurch region of her adopted nation. The seismic shock had no impact on the defending champion’s play, as Ko took the field with the lead and walked off the last hole with her third win in the event in four years.
“It was interesting, I’ve never been on a golf course where there is an earthquake,” Ko told the Associated Press after her two-shot triumph, the 15th worldwide professional victory for the 18-year-old. “It was lucky I wasn’t out there playing because I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of my swing and the ball moves somewhere else.’’
After winning @ALPGtour & @LETgolf New Zealand Women's Open @LydiaKo has 15 pro wins at age 18. I'm guessing she wins 20 before 20.
— Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) February 14, 2016
Ko conceded she did not have her “A” game, after carding a closing 2-under 70 following 69-67 in the first two rounds of the 54-hole Ladies European Tour/Australian Ladies PGA tourney.
As you can see, they're loving @LydiaKo taking a 1-shot lead at New Zealand Women's Open w/ her 67 Saturday: pic.twitter.com/1YmGgAsIhe
— Randall Mell (@RandallMellGC) February 13, 2016
“I was going to blame the earthquakes for my putts not dropping,” said Ko, whose sole bogey of the day to go with two birdies came after a three-putt from 10 feet on the par-5 fifth. “I had my headphones on so I didn’t know if I was getting in the rhythm of the song or if it was my caddy, Jason thought that it was his beer from yesterday kicking in.”
A birdie on the par-3 11th gave Ko a two-shot edge, which she maintained on her way to a 10-under for the week.
Five years ago almost to the day an earthquake measuring 6.3 killed 185 people in the Christchurch area. Sunday’s shaker struck some six miles from the Clearwater Golf Club and lasted about 30 seconds, with 52 aftershocks reported.
Ko, who donated prize money to Nepal earthquake relief efforts after a 2015 LPGA event, will reportedly do the same for New Zealand with her purse from Sunday’s W.
Lydia Ko is something else: World no 1 & now 3-time winner of New Zealand Open.Also gave away all her prize money MT pic.twitter.com/Dn4W9ckbir
— Lady Golfer Magazine (@LadyGolferMag) February 14, 2016
“I could feel some tears coming after the 18th hole,” Ko said to the AP. “It’s been a long week, a lot of emotion and a lot of people to share this amazing victory with. Especially given how much New Zealand golf has been a support to me and my career.”
Ko does not have far to travel for her next tilt. The 10-time LPGA Tour winner will take her hot hand to the defense of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open starting Thursday.
