Hall of Famer keen to ‘pick the brain’ of LPGA’s newest sensation at Women’s Open
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Lydia Ko might have won almost everything there is to be won in the women’s game, but she is looking forward to seeing what she can learn from playing partner Lottie Woad at Royal Porthcawl…
Defending AIG Women’s Open champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko admits she is “excited” to see what she can learn from Lottie Woad’s game after being grouped with the 21-year-old for the first two rounds of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.
Ko enjoyed a dream victory at St Andrews last year, but Woad has stolen the headlines ahead of her defence after beginning her professional career in incredible style.
Woad won her maiden Ladies European Tour title as an amateur at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at the start of July and nearly followed that up with a first major triumph at the Evian Championship, missing out on the playoff by one shot.
She then won on her debut as a professional at last week’s Scottish Open at Dundonald to cap off a remarkable month.
Now, she arrives in Wales as one of the contenders. Whether she can continue this searing run she is on remains to be seen but Woad can count Ko among her admirers.
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Ko is no stranger to overnight stardom. The 28-year-old New Zealander broke through when she was just 15 and is still the youngest major champion in the history of the women’s game.
Two-time major champion Lilia Vu makes up the star-studded threeball that is sure to attract plenty of interest.
Asked for her thoughts on playing with Woad, Ko said: “It’s a triple L group — Lilia, Lottie, and myself. Yeah, it’s going to be fun. Lilia is obviously a past champion, a couple years ago, so playing with her is great.
“It will be my first time playing with Lottie, so I’m excited. She’s coming in with a ton of momentum, and I think there’s going to be a lot of people that’s going to come out and watch her.”
Ko has been in and out of form this year. Her last three starts have all been in majors, her best result a T12 finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship before she missed the cut at the Evian in France.
But playing with the game’s form player could provide the inspiration to help Ko rediscover her best golf.
“It’s going to be really cool for me to see and see the things that I could possibly learn from her and why she’s playing good,” Ko added. “I don’t think the ranking you are doesn’t — just because you’re a higher ranked player doesn’t mean that there’s something that I can’t learn from somebody else.
“She’s obviously playing great golf. I’ve seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there’s aspects that I’m kind of going for that she has.
“It will be really cool to just be inside the ropes, pick her brain a little bit. I think it’s going to be — it’s a great group, and I think it’s going to be a great couple days.”
It’s a great lesson that could be applied to club golfers. Whether you are a low or high-handicapper – or somewhere in-between – there are always ways you can get better and that little nugget could come from anywhere.
This game will never be mastered, and if Ko is talking about how eager she is to learn from a complete rookie, then the rest of us have no business turning our noses up at any of our peers.
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Lydia Ko is keen to learn from LPGA sensation Lottie Woad
