New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko plays down pro hype
The 16-year-old sensation says her rookie season as a professional is a learning experience, as tour officials also temper soaring expectations
New Zealand phenomenon Lydia Ko, 16, said she was trying to put soaring expectations out of her mind as she makes the difficult adjustment to life as a professional golfer.
Ko excelled as an amateur to such an extent that her decision to turn professional in October, announced on YouTube, was generally welcomed, with the LPGA tour waiving its usual age requirement of 18.
But life on tour, with weekly tournaments and travel, and media and sponsor demands, is a very different proposition.
Expectations are there, but I've just got to forget about it and just concentrate on my game
"It's kind of a learning year as it's my rookie year and I haven't played the majority of the courses and I've got to learn what it's like playing on the tour," she said at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.
"You just can't play well every week, every day," she added. "I wish I could but that doesn't really happen. Expectations are there, but I've just got to forget about it and just concentrate on my game."
Bespectacled, South Korean-born Ko is already ranked fourth in the world after winning four professional events as an amateur - including one at the record-breaking age of 14.
Rounds of 73 and 69 have left Ko in the hunt at this week's US$1.4 million HSBC Women's Champions, the high point of the LPGA's early season Asian swing.