EDMONTON, ALBERTA (AP) - Lydia Ko made history last year at Vancouver Golf Club when she won the Canadian Women’s Open to become the LPGA Tour’s youngest winner and fifth amateur champion.
Fellow teenager Charley Hull starred last week in the Solheim Cup, helping Europe rout the States 18-10 at Colorado Golf Club.
They will play alongside each other in the first two rounds at Royal Mayfair, starting play Thursday morning in a group with young Canadian player Jennifer Kirby.
“She obviously proved herself out there last week, and she’s obviously a really great player,” Ko said about Hull.
Last year, Ko won at 15 years, 4 months. The South Korean-born New Zealander broke the age record of 16 set by Lexi Thompson in the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.
“Time flies and lots of things have happened since then,” Ko said. “I’ve been really enjoying it the last year.”
Ko has two other victories in professional events, the New South Wales Open last year and New Zealand Women’s Open this year. She’s making her 10th LPGA Tour start of the season.
“You know, I’ve been getting a whole new experience, because courses change,” Ko said. “I’ve been getting a feel for all these different types of golf courses in different countries and situations. I’ve been really enjoying it. It doesn’t feel like I’ve played 10 already, but yeah, it’s been really cool to have that opportunity to play this many.”
Hull, from England, was 2-1-0 in the Solheim Cup, capped by a 5-and-4 singles victory over Paula Creamer.
“It was amazing, because you’re always dreaming of being able to play, and getting to Solheim, especially with it being my first year on tour, it was just a dream come true,” said Hull. “I absolutely loved every moment of it.”
South Korea’s Inbee Park, second last year behind Ko, has six victories this year. She won the first three major championships of the season, then finished 14 strokes behind winner Stacy Lewis in the Women’s British Open in her bid to become the first professional to win four straight majors in one season.
“I feel like I’m a lot more relaxed now,” Park said. “I mean, I experienced some big pressure in British Open. That week was big, and it could have been great if I could have played a little bit better, but some weeks you don’t play your best. But I had a great experience there, so I think that experience will help me throughout this season and my career.”
Park returned home to South Korea for the two weeks.
“When I was in Korea I obviously met up with my family and friends and I did some charity work,” Park said. “I did some stuff for sponsors. Everything kept me really busy. I really enjoyed my time there. I feel like I’m more refreshed, feel like I’m ready to go again.”
Lewis also is in the field along with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, the first player in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches.
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