After four strong rounds at Gainbridge LPGA to finished in a tie for second at -13, 15-time Tour winner Lydia Ko is ready to revisit Ocala, Fla. for next week’s LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik, a place she remembers fondly.
“The two times I played there I think I had chances to win both, but I think I came second or something, and I still became the No. 1 player,” said Ko who became World No. 1 in 2015 at age 17 after tying for second at the season-opening Coates Golf Championship in Ocala. “So a lot of good memories. I know that they have some signature holes, holes similar to other golf courses, so that's probably the cool characteristics of that course. Hopefully I'll be able to feed on some good momentum from this week, and every day is a new day, so we'll see what happens.”
Not only will fond memories of the location energize Ko as she goes for her first Tour victory since 2018 next week, Ko also said she feels solid about the state of her game. As proven on Sunday, she’s recognizing and taking advantage of birdie opportunities when possible, which Ko said is key to staying consistent on the course.
“It was just a confidence boost for the day,” said Ko of her four-straight birdies on the back nine. “I had my first birdie, and I was like, ‘yay, actually birdies are possible,’ because when you keep not seeing it happen, you feel like, man, it's just not going to happen, period. But I hit a good shot in there and I took advantage of that opportunity.”
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