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Ko says Park deserves world No.1 ranking
Posted On Oct 16 2015
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First round leader Sung Hyun Park looked flawless on Thursday with an opening round 10-under par, 62 but struggled in round two with four bogeys in seven holes to give up the four stroke lead she held at the start of the day. She was paired with one of the LPGA’s bombers, Lexi Thompson, who was averaging 267.8 yards from the tee heading into this event. “Michelle and Lexi are taller and bigger than I am and they are much more powerful than I am, but I notice that maybe my swing speed is a bit faster than them”.
“I’m not trying to be all humble and all that but I really feel like Inbee deserves to be in that world No. 1 ranking”, Ko said.
She admitted she was just going through the motions in that stretch, saying, “I was out there only because I was a golfer”.
Ko followed wins at the Canadian Pacific Open and her maiden major title at the Evian Championship with a runner-up finish at the LPGA Malaysia when the Tour resumed last week. “When I was in trouble, I got a little fortunate, got a good lie in the rough”. “But when we’re out there, we are not thinking about it. I think for the crowds and for the media, it makes it really exciting when everything is close”.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand watches her shot on the second hole during the second round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship golf tournament at Sky72 Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea, Friday, October 16, 2015.
Park’s early lead at the HanaBank certainly sets the standard, but now she’s going to face the likes of Charley Hull and Gerina Piller, who both carded 66 and will be playing tough golf to catch her on Friday. Ko said she “had a lot of fun” playing alongside Park, and said it’s great to have someone who pushes her to work harder. Over her next four events, Ko tied for 41st, tied for 16th, tied for 27th and missed the cut.
Ko and Park have played the first two rounds together. I got myself in a good position. “If I thought about the rankings, it’s just way too much”. “I have four more tournaments left after this, or three, and I go into every tournament wanting to win”.
A resurgent Yani Tseng and Mirim Lee are next another shot back. U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster, the oldest player in the field at 55, also had a 71. “I just felt like I was pretty solid out there”.
