World No 1 amateur Lydia Ko will become only the second amateur

World No 1 amateur Lydia Ko will become only the second amateur from New Zealand to play at the US Open when she tees off tomorrow.

Ko, who became the youngest winner in both men’s and women’s professional golf when she claimed the NSW Open, has a history of rising to the occasion.

The enormity of playing the US Open – the only other Kiwi amateur to feature was Olivia Hartley in 1999 – is not lost on the Gulf Harbour teen.

“Being around and playing with the world’s best is overwhelming,” said Ko from Wisconsin.

“Words can’t explain how awesome it is. I got an autograph from Michelle Wie and also Annika Sorenstam.

Ko has been pleased with her practice rounds where she got a good idea of the Blackwolf Run course.

Ko is teeing off from the first tee alongside Hee Young Park of Korea and Dewi Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands in round one just after 6am (NZ time).

She will not be the youngest in history to play the US Open. That record is held by American Lexi Thompson who was only 12-years-old when she qualified in 2007.

via Fairfax NZ News