KIRK HOPES TO CONTINUE SUCCESS
Australian veteran Katherine Kirk is aiming to continue to ride the wave of a great 2017 that includes three top-10 finishes, her most in a season since 2012, and her third career victory at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
The 35-year-old is coming off of a third place finish at The Evian Championship, her second best finish in a major behind a runner-up in the 2010 Ricoh Women’s British Open.
“I’ve been working pretty hard,” Kirk said. “I changed coaches at the end of the 2015 and I guess finally the changes are kicking in. When your confidence is high that helps in this game and I have finally got a little bit of confidence.”
KNOW THE FEELING
If there is anyone that can relate to the kind of pressure that comes with success at a young age that New Zealander Lydia Ko has faced in her career, it’s 20-year-old Canadian phenom Brooke Henderson. Henderson became the second youngest major champion in LPGA history last year at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (18y 9m 2d), less than five months older than Ko when she won the 2015 Evian Championship.
Henderson may not be having the banner year she experienced in 2016, but she did get her fourth career win at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and has five top-10 finishes on the season. At World No. 12, she is the second-highest ranked player in this week’s field behind Ko (No. 8).
Brooke can also relate to the feeling of playing in front of the home crowd and fans that long to see her tee it up.
“I feel it’s really exciting for her to have a home event here in front of her home fans, in front of her home country; which, you know, on the LPGA Tour, she doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to do that,” Henderson said. “Back home I was able to play the Canadian Women’s Open, in front of my hometown; and that was a lot of fun for me. So, I feel like it’s a great opportunity for her.”
CREAMER FORCED TO WITHDRAW
American major champion Paula Creamer withdrew from the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open on Tuesday due to a wrist injury.
“I’ve seen multiple doctors and what I have is Intersection Syndrome,” Creamer said. “Basically I need 3-4 weeks to heal with no movement, no nothing. Basically just little minor rehab, ice and heat. I thought I could try and play this week, but unfortunately I can’t. It’s a tough decision obviously being all the way over here, but I think it’s the best choice and while my husband and I are here we’re definitely going to enjoy the sights and everything in New Zealand.”
QUOTABLE
“I don’t think we’ll be doing skydiving or bungee jumping, or anything; but you know, hopefully hikes or just taking around the beautiful landscape.” - Brooke Henderson, on exploring New Zealand
“She’s family to me, I’ve known her since she was a baby, she still is a baby. I call her a baby just now and she said, “You’re only five years older than me,” that’s a lot.”-Danielle Kang, on Lydia Ko
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
ABOUT MCKAYSON:
MCKAYSON is a newly created sports brand in apparel and accessories, owned by MCS Holdings Inc based in Seoul, Korea. The spirit of MCKAYSON comes from the home of golf in Scotland where its brand identity, concepts and mood derive. The company’s adage “We are MCKAYSON” encompasses all the sports the clothing represents from golf, yoga, running, general fitness and active lifestyle. MCKAYSON has established itself first in the golf apparel market in Korea and Asia but will expand to global markets, with its golfwear a mix of artistic sense with functional and performance materials.
ABOUT WINDROSS FARM GOLF COURSE:
Set amongst picturesque panoramas south of Auckland is New Zealand’s brand new golf course, Windross Farm. It is a welcome addition to the North Island golf course offering and a facility that promises a special golfing experience. The course traverses 60 hectares of pristine farmland with 360-degree views of tree-lined hills and lush countryside. Windross Farm has been developed as a unique inland links-style course that offers a mixture of flat and undulating ground, man-made lakes and strategically placed bunkers to offer the best of golf and the natural environment.
ABOUT THE CLUBHOUSE:
The MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open is promoted by The Clubhouse (NZ) Ltd. The Clubhouse is a dynamic sports and entertainment management company based in Auckland, New Zealand. Led by founder Michael Goldstein, The Clubhouse is fast building an impressive portfolio of sporting events in New Zealand. This includes New Zealand’s first LPGA event, The MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open. The Clubhouse is the Event Promoter and Tournament operator (2017- 2019). The Clubhouse is associated with the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open and the 2017 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. The company is assisting with the bid to bring the World Rally Championship to New Zealand. The Clubhouse (NZ) Ltd is a subsidiary entity led by independent Chairperson Graham Child along with other independent directors Phil Tataurangi and Hilary Poole along with Dean Murphy (CEO of NZ Golf).
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