Dame Lydia Ko says she will aim to “perform even better” for her father, who will be watching her tee up at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia tomorrow.
The Kiwi golf ace has been on a hot run of form this year, winning the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in March and securing top 10s in four other tournaments.
More recently, she helped the World team beat Japan and finish third at the inaugural LPGA Tour’s International Crown tournament.
Speaking to media ahead of this weekend’s tournament, Ko said it was “very encouraging” to have her father there to watch her play.
“It is always a big help. My parents don’t see me play as often as they used to, like in the early years of my career.
“And so when they do now, it’s always a big push for me to perform even better,” she said.
Ko said her father “spurred me on” when she won the Women’s World Championship.
“Hope it is the same charm to see me win here this year.”
Ko said she was hoping for a good performance in Kuala Lumpur, at a course she described as “not completely new” to her.
“You have to hit it really well, and just when you see a lot of birdies, obviously, you have to putt well, but you’re setting up a lot of birdie opportunities. So I think that’s what I got to do well, too.”
