Lydia Ko: ‘We must trust Zika experts’

• Lydia Ko notches remarkable 13th career LPGA Tour win
• The 19-year-old now has sights set on Olympic Games
• Isn’t fazed by Zika virus threat – can only see positives

Lydia Ko continued her dominance of the women’s game with her 13th LPGA Tour win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Just weeks after the Kiwi’s disappointment of her play-off defeat to Brooke Henderson at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Ko saw off Candie Kung and Morgan Pressel by three strokes to win on 17-under-par and further distance herself as women’s No.1

But instead of sitting back and enjoying her recent victories, the two-time major winner is determined to keep firing on all cylinders for the remainder of the 2016 season, with a big goal of hers to win gold at the Rio Olympics. And, unlike some of the world’s best male golfers, Ko isn’t too concerned about the Zika virus threat.

“It’s very unfortunate to hear about the Zika virus,” said Lydia Ko. “But to me, out of the girls that I’ve talked to, on our tour, I think everyone is super excited to go there. I know trying to get the last spot until I guess, after the year is open is when it is finalised but I think it’s exciting.

CONTINUES BELOW…

“I think the Olympics is a way of growing the game. As a fan of sports myself, I’ve turned on the TV and started learning about these different sports and different athletes. I think that’s how people out of the golfing industry will learn more about us, the LPGA players and PGA players.

“The best experts in the world are handling the situation of the Zika and if it was – I feel like if it was definitely too dangerous, they wouldn’t get us going there, but, you know, I think we have to trust the experts that they are handling the situation, and for us to concentrate on the events we have coming up and be excited for the Olympics.

“It’s not every week, not every year you get to do this, to represent your country, amongst the world’s best athletes in other sports, so I’m super excited about it, and there are just so many positives from Rio that golf can take.”

Lydia Ko’s win in Arkansas moves her to 38th on the all-time LPGA Tour wins list and 31st on the all-time LPGA Tour money list on $6.7m – more than a quarter of the way to Annika Sorenstam on $22m. And yes, bear in mind that she only turned 19 two months ago.

Follow @BunkeredOnline

Lydia Ko on the Olympics :: Your thoughts

What do you make of Lydia Ko‘s comments on the Olympic Games? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.