Golf: Lydia Ko's Open chances get local hero status boost

Lydia Ko watches her tee shot on the 15th hole at the Coates Golf Championship. Photo / Getty Images

Constant focus and heavy favouritism will accompany Lydia Ko around Clearwater in her attempt to add the NZ Women's Open to her growing collection of golf titles.

Crowds will invade the par-72 championship course with its mix of links, water and parkland terrain, hoping to see if the new world No 1 can claim her second national title.

Ko will be challenged by a range of talent, from the multi-decorated Dame Laura Davies who will be inducted into the World Hall of Fame in July, to the teenage Australian sensation Su-Hyun Oh who won the recent RACV Ladies Masters.

The TAB will open their book today with Ko at short odds to win her second national title followed by English teenager Charley Hull and Oh, who will earn punters almost double figures if they succeed.

Hull comes to this tournament after finishing 7th at the Australian Open when she started strongly before battling in the awkward conditions. The 18-year-old was rookie of the year in 2013 on the European tour with five runner-up finishes, before she won her only title, a year ago, in Morocco, where she shot a final round 62 to catch the leader Gwladys Nocera and beat her in a playoff.

Hull's form promoted her as the youngest player selected for the Solheim Cup when Europe beat the US in August 2013.

Oh, another 18-year-old, won last month's Australian Masters on the Gold Coast with a four birdie finish in her second start as a professional to run down the field including Hull, who had been the overnight leader.

Davies began her career 30 years ago when she won in Belgium during her first year before claiming the British Open the following season. She has claimed four majors among her 85 wins as a professional, including 45 victories on the European tour.

In 1994, she became the first golfer to win on five different tours in one season. Five years later she became the first player to win 1 million on the European Tour and won the NZ Open when it was played at Pegasus in Christchurch in 2010.

French professional Nocera has won 14 titles around the globe since signing on late for the paid ranks when she was 27. She was the order of merit winner on the European Tour in 2008 and the following season earned her LPGA card and won the NZ Open. She started as an LPGA rookie in 2010 but has yet to match her records from Europe.

Australian professional Kristie Smith, 26-year-old daughter of former pro Wayne Smith, is also rated.