Lydia Ko records her lowest ever LPGA score at Ford Championship
Lydia Ko – file image courtesy of USGA
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has produced the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career with 12 under par 60 at the Ford Championship Presented by Wildhorse at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix.
Interestingly, however, the brilliant start to the week has her just one ahead of last week’s winner in California and the defending chmapion this week, Hyo Joo Kim,
“I think the number 59 did cross my mind by the time I holed my birdie putt on 6, but it wasn’t like the pressure was — like it wasn’t like I had a lot of pressure to like break 60,” said Ko. “It was just more like oh, it’s really cool to be in this position. I think that’s my career low score.
“I think the lowest score that I had before that is maybe at the Australian Women’s Open maybe, somewhere along those lines. Yeah, definitely a fun round to have.
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually started a round with four birdies, so it was nice to take advantage of the good start and continue that on my back nine as well.”
Ko began the season well with two top 5 finishes, but her last two weeks have been below her best, although a change of putter might have been the catalyst for the form reversal.
“I think, like as every golfer does, when things go well you also think about the things that could go terribly wrong as well. I feel like I stayed patient and was rolling it really well. Yeah, I actually put in a new putter this week. Like I’ve had my old putter for a really long time, like the same model, so it was kind of different just to have something else.
“And maybe it’s a honeymoon phase, who knows. But you take a more easy day like this on any occasion.
“It’s a new Scotty Cameron 12. As most people know I have a thing — I have my love towards Scotty Cameron putters, so it’s very unusual for me to change out of my putter.
“It’s been a while since I have tried a different model than the prototype that I have.
“It just rolled good. Went in the bag on Tuesday and I think even Paul at Scotty Cameron and Tom were kind of surprised that I was going to change.
“But I felt like you never know until you play out there and obviously I — this has only been one round but it’s a good start. You know, really couldn’t have been any better.
“I felt very calm. Honestly, like when I was younger I hated birdieing the first hole for some stupid reason. I think a lot of people have that kind of superstition. I’m like what happens when you hit it to a foot, right? It’s not like you’re going to miss that putt because you’re worried about what the rest of your day is going to be like.
“I got into a really good momentum and I think that is what helped me kind of stay in my zone. I really wasn’t out of position that many times so it’s a lot easier to be in that kind of rhythm and tempo.
“But I think when you’re in the zone, you’re just focused and there are not as many external thoughts going in and out of your head. You’re just focused on what shot you have in front of you, and then — and not get too carried away about the outcome of it.
“Staying in the zone is almost like being able to switch on and off between shots and having full commitment when you’re about to hit it. Outside of that, just being as relaxed as possible.”
Ko is currently the world number 8, having slipped from number 3 twelve months ago.
