Women’s Australian Open: Lydia Ko in mix at Kooyonga

Lydia Ko hasn’t been afraid to make changes as she strives to regain her world No 1 ranking.

Lydia Ko fires in a short-iron approach during her opening round of 68 at Kooyonga in the Australian Open yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

Former world No 1 Lydia Ko knows she’s getting bagged for swinging changes almost as much as her golf clubs.

The New Zealander carded a four-under-par 68 in yesterday’s opening round of the Australian Open at Adelaide’s Kooyonga Golf Club, three shots behind South Korea’s pacesetter Jin Young Ko.

Another South Korean, Jiyai Shin, is outright second at five-under with Australians Hannah Green (three-under) and Karrie Webb (two-under) well positioned. Ko was among a group of 10 golfers to shoot 68, in her first competitive round with another coach and another caddie, having again swapped her entourage this year.

The 20-year-old has had 11 caddies since turning professional five years ago. And she’s on her third coach after hiring and firing one within a year. But Ko says critics of her changes miss the point.

“I’m trying to make the decisions where I think it’s the best for me in my career,” Ko said yesterday. “Sometimes, I think ‘hey, maybe I shouldn’t have done that’. But I feel like I made the right decisions.

“All I can do ... is do what I think is best for me and, sometimes, not everybody is going to agree.”

Ko last year lost her No 1 ranking during her first winless LPGA Tour season since 2012.

Her meagre year came after switching coaches from the renowned David Leadbetter, with whom she worked from 2013 to the end of 2106.

In came Gary Gilchrist, who lasted just the year. Now, Ko is working under Ted Oh.

“Hopefully, this one does go a long way,” she said.

AAP