Lydia Ko has hinted her appearance at the New Zealand Women’s Open this week could be her last home tournament for a while.
World No.1 Ko stands alone as the major drawcard at the 54-hole event starting in Christchurch on Friday.
She has sacrificed a shot at a far bigger pay packet and greater world ranking points by spurning an LPGA Tour event in Thailand which carries eight times the prizemoney of the $NZ300,000 ($A287,000) event at Clearwater Golf Course.
She says loyalty to her New Zealand upbringing played a big part in her decision but she can’t guarantee she will keep attending.
“I would like to play (in future) but it’s so hard because so many of the other tours start at similar times,” she said.
“Everything depends on the schedule. It’s always fun playing here but it’s very hard to commit and say that I will play here.”
It is 17-year-old Ko’s sixth successive appearance at the NZ Open, describing Clearwater as among the best courses she plays regularly.
She won in 2013 as an amateur but was pipped by one shot last year at Clearwater by Korean Mi Hyang Lee.
Ko’s memories of last year are nevertheless fond because of the enormous home support she received.
She can expect an even greater following this week, with more than 30,000 spectators anticipated to attend across the three days.
Ko is coming off victory at the Women’s Australian Open in Melbourne last week, a result which triggered lavish praise from three greats of women’s golf.
Americans Kathy Whitworth and Nancy Lopez and Swede Annika Sorenstam, who have won 208 LPGA titles between them over five decades, spoke of Ko’s qualities in a feature article by ESPN this week.
“No question she is unique. Sometimes a special player comes along and you just enjoy them,” said Whitworth, aged 75, who won 88 career titles.
Sorenstam, a 72-time winner, says she is amazed by Ko’s consistency and ability to score well even on her off-days.
“A lot of times when you get to No.1 it’s tough because everybody’s looking at you and kind of trying to pull you down,” she said.
“Some players find that really difficult. From a mental perspective, she seems to have everything in order.”
