American LPGA star Danielle Kang will have local knowledge and a wealth of experience to call upon after picking up Steve Williams to carry her bag for the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open in Auckland this week.
Current PGA Champion Kang admitted she thought it was a joke when she was informed Williams – the semi-retired former caddy for Tiger Woods and now Adam Scott - had offered to caddy for her at at Windross Farm Golf Course.
“I’ve got a great caddy on my bag this week, it’ll be fun,” Kang said. “I needed a local because my caddy isn’t able to be here so I said ‘okay I’ll just hire a local’. Somehow someone said ‘would you mind having Steve Williams on the bag’? I thought it was a joke at first.”
The offer, though, was genuine and Kang was quick to accept and has been impressed over 27 practice holes so far.
“He’s as local as it gets so I think I did pretty well there. He’s a really cool guy. Caddying he knows all the numbers, he knows everything. He is like a walking yardage book. I don’t even need to ask he just tells me what I am thinking. It is fun so far.”
The Californian is in Auckland to support “baby sister” Lydia Ko – the former world no. 1 who has been instrumental in the LPGA Tour coming to New Zealand for the first time.
“Lydia is like my baby sister. It is her home, like my second home. I like being out here. Everything has been flowing really nicely. I’ve been in New Zealand before. Everyone is just so welcoming. It is very homey out here.”
Kang said was impressed with the tournament set up at the Windross Farm course.
“The greens are in really great condition and it is beautiful. I’m hoping that the wind blows a little and the rain comes. The fairways are really forgiving.
“We’re waiting to see how they set it up. There are places where you can go for it and places where you can’t. It’ll be interesting.”
The winner of the KPMG PGA Championship in July, Kang said she hoped to follow up that first major success with a victory in Auckland.
“You don’t enter a tournament without winning in mind so I am hoping to play really well out here. I hope to take that trophy home.”
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