Golf: The stat that shows just how great Lydia Ko is

Lydia Ko with the NZ Women's Open trophy. Photo / Getty

Lydia Ko's numbers are brilliant and baffling.

Her 68.55 scoring average is the best in professional golf this season-better than Adam Scott who leads the PGA stats with an average 68.75 strokes per round.

That impressive picture is balanced by her history at tomorrow's first major, the ANA Inspiration, where records show her best finish has been a tie for 25th.

It's an unusual contrast for the world No 1 as Ko's coach, David Leadbetter, feels his top pupil has a great game for the Mission Hills Country club course and is playing better than he has ever seen.

Ko will shrug her shoulders and offer a make of it what you want response to any inquiries about her low numbers and previous struggles to challenge at this major. She has the game and is ready to deliver.

Ko won the Kia Classic last week but will need to buck the LPGA trend which shows Annika Sorenstam (twice) and Lorena Ochea have been the only players to win the opening major after winning the previous tournament.

For much of the week Ko has been in the spotlight as attention narrows on her bid to follow up her triumph in last year's final Evian Championship major.

She is paired with Gerina Piller for the first two rounds while defending champion Brittany Lincicome is teeing it up alongside big-hitting 2014 champion Lexi Thompson.

Amongst the series of events attached to the ANA, Ko was a special guest at a dinner where the audience listened to sports stars like Sorenstam, Lindsey Vonn, Abby Wambach and Missy Franklin speak about their journeys to success.