NEW ZEALAND 16-YEAR-OLD IS DEFENDING CHAMPION

LYDIA KO HOT FAVOURITE FOR NZ 

WOMEN'S OPEN, SAYS LAURA DAVIES

Lydia Ko: "She's got a great tempo," says Charley Hull. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

NEWS RELEASE 

Teenager Charley Hull will be hoping she can put into practice what she has picked up from playing with fellow teenage sensation Lydia Ko and capture her first professional title at this week’s ISPS Handa New Zealand’s Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch.

The 17-year-old from England had a fantastic rookie year in Europe. She finished runner-up in her first five events as a professional, finished sixth on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and took home the LET Rolex Rookie of the Year honours. However, she did learn a thing or two when she was paired with the New Zealand No.1 during the year.

“I try and focus mainly on myself and my own game but sometimes just have a look at little things that you can learn off her,” said Hull of Ko.   

“She has got a great tempo. That is one of the main things I worked on over winter, because I noticed that about her.  So it was something I definitely needed to work on.

Hull played with Ko at the Evian Championship in France and didn’t play very well that week “cause my swing was a bit out.”

“I was working on some stuff and it wasn’t quite together and I thought if my tempo was better, it would give me more of a chance, so that is one thing I have definitely noticed with Lydia.

“She has won five professional titles and I am trying to win my first one still so she is a good person to learn from.”

The fact that Ko is defending and now up to No.4 in the Rolex World Rankings, takes the spotlight away from Hull which is nothing but good news for the Solheim Cup rep. 

“I quite like it. It takes pressure off me a little bit, because they have so many high expectations about Lydia, which is kinda good, so people won’t expect too much from you but with Lydia a lot of people expect it. “

Hull is on her first trip to New Zealand and says it reminds her of home.

“It is really pretty, I like it (New Zealand), it looks a bit like England I think, just like our summer, but probably a bit warmer, I like it so far.”

Regarding the Clearwater lay-out she is ready for a stern test.

“I think it is really pretty, I think it is great, the greens are really good.  The whole course is really good, especially when the wind blows it can be a real challenge.”

Hull, who is paired with Ko and Australian Stacey Keating in the first two rounds, is looking forward to tomorrow.

“I like playing with Lydia. Actually you learn a lot off her, which is weird, but I played with her in the Canadian Open for the first three rounds. We were both playing pretty well in that and then she soared ahead. I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Her compatriot Laura Davies, a winner of an incredible 84 professional titles, and the 2012 NZ Women’s Open, has played a motherly role to the young English superstar.

Davies expects big things of Hull as she looks to back up her dream debut season.

“Me and Charley get on really well,” said Davies. “I played with her in her first pro event last year in Morocco and I just thought she was a lovely young girl with a really bright future.

“I haven’t given her a lot of advice, I have talked to her Dad a bit about travel and things and that is just helping out someone who is a peer. You try to help them if you can. You want to beat them and they want to beat you but there is no doubt that Charley is an exciting prospect and she has a really bright future.”

She might be playing mind games but Laura Davies believes that Lydia Ko deserves to be labeled as the overwhelming favourite for the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch.

The 2012 NZ Open Champion, who is one of the legends of the game with four major titles to her name, said that the World No.4 will be hard to beat at the Clearwater Golf Club when the tournament tees off tomorrow.

“It will be a tough task winning it because Lydia is here,” said the 50-year-old.

“If you haven’t got your very best game then you are playing for second. In other words if you turn up and you are average then you are not going to beat her.

"I know if I play my very best golf then I can beat her, Gwladys [Nocera] the same. There are 15 – 20 golfers out here who, on their day, can beat Lydia over a week.”

Davies said that Ko’s consistency puts pressure on the rest of the field.

“She is not going to make too many mistakes because that is the sort of player that she is. A lot of us think that we can win it but we have got to be at our best.”

It is some wrap from a player who has won 84 professional titles worldwide and been a dominant force in the women’s game.

The bookmakers agrees with Davies, having the World No. 4 at the shortest odds ever for a champion in the event’s history at only $3 (3 to 1) to win. They also have the Rest of the Field vs Lydia Ko bet at $1.33 (i.e. you can put a dollar on Lydia NOT winning and stand to win only one dollar and 33 cents)

Davies said she has never seen a player like Ko before and that she deserves all the accolades she receives.

“Lydia is No.4 in the world. She has defended an LPGA Tour title in Canada and she is only 16. She has done so much at such a young age and everyone loves seeing a youngster play really well, week in week out.

“I am very impressed by her. I remember when I won this tournament and Lydia was the top amateur and she was 12. I said in my speech you should go to bed now, it was after six at the prize-giving. 

"Little did I know, I mean I have seen a lot of young ‘uns come and go but obviously Lydia is a different type of player. She is very calm, she has never lost her temper, you hardly ever see her frown, she has obviously got some great backing from her family.”

For all her praise don’t believe that Davies has already written off her chances.
The English pro, who is always a popular player with the galleries in Christchurch, has all the experience to cope with the strong winds and is feeling more at home at Clearwater.

“The first time we played here I didn’t really like it. It hadn’t matured but when we came back from Pegasus I thought ‘Should I even go?’ and I loved it last year. I just think it has turned into a world class course.”

Davies has a clear goal in mind for the three-round tournament if she is going to be the first player to win the NZ Women’s Open twice.

“I think I need to shoot 15 under if you could shoot three 67s then you will be competitive. Obviously there are a lot of girls who can shoot that number. Lydia is obviously one of them and I am hoping I am one of them too. "