If So Yeon Ryu comes up just short again at this week’s Australian Women’s Open golf championship, it won’t be due to a lack of local knowledge.

The South Korean star boasts an all-Australian support cast and even declares an undying love for Vegemite.

The last time So was at Royal Melbourne was for the 2012 Australian Open, as the reigning US Open champion.

She had the Australian title seemingly in her grasp, only to miss a four-foot putt for victory before bowing out in a six-way playoff won by American Jessica Korda.

“I really wanted to win the tournament because all my staff is Australian and I love this country,” 24-year-old So said on Tuesday.

“I wanted to hold up such an honoured trophy, so it was tough to lose.

“But I always think about the positives. I don’t think about the negatives.”

The world No.7 arrived on the sandbelt last Friday and got straight down to work with a practise round alongside former Australian professional Mike Clayton.

But So’s green and gold roots run much deeper than that.

Her coach Ian Triggs is an Australian, as is her physiotherapist.

Perhaps most importantly of all, her caddy Tom Watson is an Aussie.

“I call him a golf addict,” said So of Watson, himself a long-time member at Royal Melbourne.

“He just knows everything.

“The really good thing having him on the tour is he really knows my game.

“And he’s such a character on the golf course – when I make a crazy birdie he starts dancing.

“He makes me relax a lot.

“Of course he’s also made me angry quite a lot of times but I take it.

“I’m really lucky to have Tom Watson.”