What does Lydia Ko do after some time off?
Win.
The No.2 ranked player in the world has five worldwide wins so far in 2015, capturing the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open (a non-LPGA event), Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and Evian Championship. Ko captured three of her five victories this season after taking the prior week off.
With that kind of winning percentage, Ko is clearly putting in some work during her stints away from the Tour. But again seemingly wise beyond her years, Ko has found a way to strike a balance in spending a portion of that free time as any normal 18-year-old would, and that is perhaps the true key to her success.
“I don't really like to do a lot of physical things outside the golf course, and just lying in bed watching movies is good enough for me,” said Ko about how she spent her time between wins in Canada and France. “I sat on my butt on the couch and didn't move, and normally when you have days off you feel really good and relaxed you can but I was on the couch for so long I was kind of grunting when I got up. It was good, and then I had like a week to practice.”
Free time is an energizer for Ko with an extended shelf life. The 8-time winner on the LPGA Tour has figured out how to harness that energy for weeks at a time, capturing four of her five wins in back-to back-starts, with victories in Australia then New Zealand and then in Canada and France.
Ko captured her first major title at the Evian Championship in mid-September and has since enjoyed a three-week hiatus due to a break in the Tour’s schedule including the Solheim Cup. Having just hoisted the trophy in France, Ko already had a plan for her time off.
“I've got a great three weeks off, so I'll be going back to Orlando, take a couple days off,” said Ko after her victory at Evian. “This has been a busy week, and I'm sure it will be for a week or so. But now I just kind of need to go back to square one, do my basic practices and work my way towards the Asia Swing.”
Having won in her last two starts, Ko has the opportunity to continue her momentum off this latest break when the Tour returns to action October 8th at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, the first of five events that make up the Asia Swing. Ko finished T-8 in Malaysia last season, with her best finish in the Swing coming in a third place finish at the 2014 Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship where she was third.
“I'm pretty sure it's going to be a great, couple weeks in Asia. I kind of have to think of this in the back of my mind, enjoy it, but also prepare for what's coming up next.”
What is next for World No.2? The one thing she does best after some time off.
Win.
| Lydia Ko's 2015 Winning Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Tournament | Finish |
| January 31, 2015 | Coates Golf Championship | T-2 |
| February 8, 2015 | Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic | T-7 |
| February 15, 2015 | Break | |
| February 22, 2015 | ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open | 1 |
| March 1, 2015 | ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open (non-LPGA event) | 1 |
| March 8 2015 | HSBC Women's Champions | 2 |
| March 12, 2015 | Break | |
| March 19, 2015 | JTBC Founders Cup | T-6 |
| March 29, 2015 | Kia Classic | 3 |
| April 5, 2015 | ANA Inspiration | T-51 |
| April 12, 2015 | Break | |
| April 19, 2015 | Lotte Championship | DNP |
| April 26, 2015 | Swinging Skirts | 1 |
| May 3, 2015 | Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout | T-41 |
| May 17, 2015 | Kingsmill Championship | T-16 |
| May 25, 2015 | Break | |
| May 31, 2015 | ShopRite LPGA Classic | DNP |
| June 7, 2015 | Manulife LPGA Classic | T-27 |
| June 14, 2015 | KPMG Women's PGA Championship | CUT |
| June 21, 2015 | Break | |
| June 28, 2015 | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship | T-6 |
| July 4, 2015 | Break | |
| July 12, 2015 | U.S. Women's Open | T-12 |
| July 19, 2015 | Marathon Classic | T-3 |
| July 26, 2015 | Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open (non-LPGA event) | T-4 |
| August 2, 2015 | RICOH Women's British Open | T-3 |
| August 9, 2015 | Break | |
| August 16, 2015 | Cambia Portland Classic | T-46 |
| August 23, 2015 | Canadian Pacific Women's Open | 1 |
| August 30, 2015 | Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic | DNP |
| September 7, 2015 | Evian Championship | 1 |
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