Lydia Ko's love of her homeland was the deciding factor behind her decision to play in next year's New Zealand Women's Open.

He admitted to cheating during all seven of his Tour de France victories and is currently serving a lifetime ban from cycling.

For several years, Michael Hendry made himself at home on the golf courses of Australia. The burly New Zealander was a regular at the pointy end of leaderboards across the Australasian tour.

A bad week for golf, or to be more specific Olympic golf and the game's biggest name.

Lydia Ko brings her 10-month-old Shiba Inu dog Kai to press conference ahead of the LPGA’s final event of the season. Video / LPGA

Another tournament, another top-10 finish for Lydia Ko as she claimed a share of eighth place at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia event yesterday.

It could have been even better but Lydia Ko remains a chance to claim victory in her comeback tournament on the LPGA Tour.

Danny Lee hasn't been back to New Zealand in six years but the PGA Tour professional knows exactly what he will do when he returns.

Phil Mickelson's take-down of Tom Watson's leadership here was surely the most public denunciation of a captain by a player in Ryder Cup history.

It's hard not to marvel at Lydia Ko's consistency. Expectation and pressure are things that have their own place in her golf bag but the 17-year-old continues to defy standards set for her.