She may be unofficial tournament host but New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko says that certainly doesn't make her the tournament favourite ahead of the New Zealand Women's Open starting in Auckland tomorrow.
The world number eight is the top ranked player in the field and is coming off the two recent top three finishes but hasn't won a tournament in 15 months.
Ko says she will trying to channel good memories of her three previous New Zealand Open wins but doubts she will have any particular adavantage at the new Windross Farm course.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko competing in the pro-am event ahead of the New Zealand Women's Golf Open at Windross Farm. Photo: Photosport
Seven Major winners including current PGA Champion Danielle Kang and former world number one Yani Tseng are among the field for the first LPGA event in New Zealand.
"To be able to play in front of a home crowd and some of my friends that have actually never watched golf before is going to be great," said Ko after the Pro-Am today.
"It is really cool to see some familiar faces. I'm hoping a lot of kids come out with 16 and under getting free admission. Hopefully they'll get inspired by watching us play."
The former world no. 1 is the major drawcard at Windross Farm course this week.
With two top-10 finishes already this month, Ko says her confidence has returned after a rough patch that saw her uncharacteristically miss two cuts and
finish off the pace in a third event during July and August.
"I don't think I'd call myself the favourite [this week]," she said.
"It is nice to have played well the last couple of events coming into my national open. I was struggling the last couple of months.
"If you start getting the tops-10s and being in contention those are the things that build your confidence. Everyone is so talented out here it is the little things like confidence that make the difference."
Having an LPGA Tour event in New Zealand for the first time was "really cool" but would not give her a huge advantage as she looks to end a winless streak that dates back to the Marathon Classic in Ohio in July 2016.
"I don't think there is a huge advantage playing in New Zealand. The big thing for me is I am going to be pumped to see a lot of fans out there. Playing at home that is a really cool thing. But I don't think being here will necessarily be a huge difference. It is going to be like any other LPGA event.
A relaxed Ko, a 14-time winner on the LPGA tour, endured wind and rain in a practice round on Tuesday but played in more benign conditions during Wednesday's pro-am.
"I got to see how the course plays in different situations. I think the weather will be a huge factor. There are not that many trees or things to block the wind if it blows.
"It is pretty generous off the tee. There is always a side that you can miss on, you are going to have that in the back of your mind. But I think the greens are going to be the hardest thing. Because it is such a new golf course it is firm. If you are coming in with longer clubs obviously it is going to be tricky to hold the greens."
"This is not an easy golf course. I feel like there are elements where it is going to get tricky," she said.
American golfer Paula Creamer Photo: Supplied
One player who won't be in the hunt is American star Paula Creamer who has withdrawn from the tournament with a wrist injury.
"I've seen multiple doctors and what I have is Intersection Syndrome," Creamer said. "Basically I need three to four weeks to heal with no movement, no nothing. Basically just little minor rehabs, ice and heat.
Her place has been taken by Canada's Jennifer Ha who flew in to Auckland today to take her place in the 132-strong field chasing the Bessie Fullerton-Smith Trophy and $1.85 million prizemoney, the richest offered for a golf event in New Zealand.
