Golf: Ko wants to defend NZ Open title

Lydia Ko. Photo / AP.

Lydia Ko wants to defend her NZ Open title next February in a run towards the LPGA- sanctioned Australian Open in Adelaide.

The world number one took out the NZ title this year at Clearwater and her coach David Leadbetter thinks she's set to defend her title.

"It's looking like it," he told Radio Sport, "she's seriously considering it."

The dates would gell-the NZ Open is February 11-14 and Australian Open Feb 18-21-it's a question of whether Ko and her coaching team think that schedule will suit her plans.

"She wants to come home and show off her game to all her loyal supporters," Leadbetter said. "She is a Kiwi through and through that's for sure."

Ko is resting up now after claiming the season-long LPGA points race and a US1m bonus, the player of the year award and leading money winner on top of her first major at the Evian Championship.

Over the next while, Team Ko will settle on their 2016 schedule including plans around the August Olympics in Rio.

There have been ideas floated about Ko travelling to Rio early next year for a practice round but Leadbetter was not convinced about the merits of that plan.

"I don't know what you are going to learn by playing one round of golf to be quite honest," he said. "The other factor is it is quite a few months away from when the (Olympics) tournament is going to be held so conditions are probably going to be totally different.

"We'll probably get as much out of looking at a video of the golf course as going over there and playing."

Rio was a long haul trip and conserving energy was a big part of Ko's annual plans. If she got to the Olympics a week before the tournament start that would give her the necessary time to practice and get used to the course.

Sometimes you could make too much fuss about an event and Ko had discovered that a few times this year when she over-prepared for tournaments.

She withdrew from a recent tournament after a month playing and travelling through Asia which left her exhausted.

"The glamour of travel can take its toll," said Leadbetter.

Ko's game had matured and she had achieved her 2015 goals including the final major of the year with a magnificent final round 63.

"Obviously the danger is we don't have quite as good a year next year as this but we have to set our goals high and she is a player I have considered could be one of the best ever," said Leadbetter.

"Lydia is right up there, her potential is huge."

She had the potential to emulate some of the marks set by Tiger Woods in the men's game where he won on average every fourth time he teed it up. She was a delightful person to teach, very considerate and one of the most popular amongst her peers.
Ko's stock shot used to be a fade but her new coaches had altered that standard shot to a draw.

"She has picked up about 15 to 20 yards on her drive which is a big help, power is a big factor. She's only 10 to 15 yards behind Lexi Thompson and still keeps that beautiful rhythm she has in her game."