18 Feb 2015

Ko bags new caddy

3:47 pm on 18 February 2015

The newly-crowned women's world golf number one Lydia Ko is looking to her Australian caddy's "dumb" jokes to help her stay at the top of the game.

The 17-year-old New Zealander became golf's youngest-ever No.1 earlier this month and is looking to solidify the ranking in the Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne starting tomorrow.

She has linked with Victorian Jason Hamilton, who previously worked with former world No.1 Yani Tseng but split back in 2012.

Ko auditioned eight caddies during her debut season on the LPGA Tour, before deciding on Hamilton.

She says she still looks for plenty of guidance around the course from a caddy and also humour.

"Personality-wise I like Jason, how he makes dumb jokes when I make a silly mistake because it makes me get over what happened."

"Bad jokes is part of my criteria," she says.

Lydia Ko in Mexico City earlier this month.

World number one Lydia Ko. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ko eclipsed Tiger Woods by almost four years as the youngest No.1 in the game, something which she says is only just sinking in.

"It's amazing what he's done for the game and how much he's grown the game, not only for the men but for the women," Ko says.

"To break the record of someone of his status is amazing and hopefully I will have my name there for a little while."

She says she doesn't feel much has changed by her reaching the top.

"A lot of my school friends aren't golfers and the cool thing about that is that they don't know much about it and they treat me as just another school teenager."