23 Dec 2014

Ko confirms Clearwater appearance

3:55 pm on 23 December 2014

The world number two golfer Lydia Ko has confirmed she'll play in the New Zealand Women's Open in Christchurch next year.

Lydia Ko at the 2014 LPGA Championship in New York.

Lydia Ko at the 2014 LPGA Championship in New York. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ko will headline the field at Clearwater Golf Club in February, where she was runner-up this year after winning the tournament in 2013.

There was speculation the 17-year-old would skip the tournament to play a more lucrative LPGA Tour event in Thailand, but her coach David Leadbetter told Radio New Zealand last month Ko was planning to play in Christchurch.

Ko says she's excited to come back and play in front of her home fans after her debut professional season.

She won three times on the LPGA Tour in 2014, including the season-ending Race to CME Globe Points Race.