Lydia Ko might not realise it, but she can play a pivotal role in New Zealand society. After emigrating from South Korea in 2003 and gaining New Zealand citizenship in 2009, the 15-year-old has become a poster child for multiculturalism in sport.
Ko's precocious skill as the youngest woman to win a Ladies Professional Golf Association title when she took out the Canadian Open in August is one thing; to do so in such a measured, unassuming manner is another. Ko's natural warmth has already disarmed the Kiwi public. Sure, New Zealanders love a winner, but Ko's temperament and discipline have been exemplary. Her ability to articulate her teenage thoughts - when English is not her first language - puts many monosyllabic sporting oafs to shame.
Wayne Shelford re-ignited awareness of Maoridom with his renditions of the haka; Val Adams and Jonah Lomu are pillars of the Tongan sporting community through shot put and rugby respectively; Ross Taylor has highlighted Samoan cricket talent.
The pressure on Ko will only increase. Already many of the world's highest profile media organisations like the BBC and ESPN have acknowledged her efforts. The World Golf Hall Of Fame asked for a piece of memorabilia after her Canadian Open win; a left-handed glove is now in their collection. High Performance Sport New Zealand even chose to name-drop Ko in their December future investment table which recognised golf's inclusion in the 2016 Olympics: "Golf is an Olympic sport with an individual athlete with a moderate probability of podium success. Investment ($2.3m until the end of 2014) is to support Lydia Ko to maintain her No1 status on the amateur world rankings, move within the top 30 positions on the professional world rankings, and track towards Rio."
Ko received a further gauge of her increasing clout when taking a phone call from the Prime Minister after her win at the New Zealand Women's Open. She's now a potential vote winner too. She has to avoid the path which leads teenage prodigies to meltdown; cue Tiger Woods, Jennifer Capriati and Zac Guildford. She needs to channel more Sachin Tendulkar, Rafael Nadal and Sarah Ulmer.
