A hole in one for New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has helped propel her into medal contention in the women’s golf tournament in Rio.
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The two players parred the opening hole, but Ko found trouble with her second shot at the par-4 second. 5 and 6 before her ace at the eighth hole on her way to a front-nine 29.
Ko’s drive safely on the fairway, her second shot pulled on the left, into the gallery and was picked up by a young fan who obviously doesn’t know much about the game.
Ko has always been an admirer of McCaw – who has been spotted supporting several New Zealand athletes after heading to Rio to cheer on fiancee and Black Stick Gemma Flynn – and the golfer capped a memorable day by finally meeting the All Black great.
Early on in the final round, Ko showed a composure well beyond her 19 years. The two-time major victor made the turn at 9-under (6-under for the day with an outgoing 29), in a tie with Stacy Lewis and Brooke Henderson for second place, and just two shots back of 36-hole leader Inbee Park.
“Because I don’t live in New Zealand right now, and I don’t go back home that often, there’s not many times when I can cross paths with other New Zealand athletes”, she said. “I think I might have to shower with it”. “Even though I did shoot even, some of the pars out there, I felt like I made birdies”.
“I know for the men it made a huge difference (to have an exciting Olympics tournament), so I’m hoping as well for the women”, said Brooke Henderson, who competed for Canada. In Round 3, Ko hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
Just hanging with my pal: Lydia Ko and Richie McCaw after her medal win. And she stays in her own mindset.
Those attributes have served Ko well in an wonderful career as a teenager, one that has a chance to get even better Saturday.
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“Ever since ’09, I was only 12 then, I’ve imagined myself to be able to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, ” Ko said. I feel like I really struggled out there. Yesterday, New Zealand had five athletes who got to stand on the podium and I said, ‘Wow, what a feeling it would be to put my contribution and stand on the podium for New Zealand, too.
