Lydia Ko to play in the U.S. Open with a new swing
Lydia Ko is ready for the U.S. Women’s Open with a new swing. The golf sensation from New Zealand is looking forward to the greatest event in her golf career.
A change in stance or swing is not easy for any golfer. It takes an enormous amount of effort to unlearn a style that has been a constant part of the golfer’s life. This change in swing indicates the level of commitment on Ko’s part.
Ko took a break from competitive golf to work on her swing. This break came after an exciting summer, during which she participated in a number of golf tournaments. The highlight of the summer was her win in the New South Wales Open.
This win was a high point of Ko’s career. She became the world’s youngest golfer to win a pro tournament. To take the break after such a winning streak is not a decision that a golfer makes that easily.
Many commentators, including her coach Guy Wilson, were concerned about her swing. They noticed a notable lack of fluidity that could cause injury to the player.
Guy Wilson and Ko took a six-week break from golf and worked on the change in swing.
Talking about the six-week period, Wilson said, “They were significant, that's why it was good to not have any events, so she could really ingrain the movements without having to worry about the result”.
So what has changed in Ko’s swing? When asked, Wilson responded, “As a youngster, we allowed her to have a stronger grip, which put a lot of pressure on her wrist. We've weakened it off ...”
The US Open will be a great opportunity for Ko to play against the world’s top talent. This will be an entirely different level for the golfer, who calls Auckland home.
She has played a couple of practice rounds at Blackwolf Run, the venue of the much awaited event. She was very pleased with the results.
It remains to be seen whether Ko can stand strong against the players who will be competing for the trophy and the associated prize money. Many fans are hopeful that Ko will post a good score on the final leaderboard.
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