MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

October 24, 2023

Lydi Ko

Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, back here with Lydia. You have one of the best short games on tour and the best on tour from greenside bunkers. What would you say is your key to staying committed from the sand? Do you have a swing thought that helps with that?

LYDIA KO: I think just making sure I'm in the right setup to I guess match what kind of shot I'm doing. I like to use a lot of bounce in the bunker. Obviously if it's super firm and like compact then that's probably not the shot to go.

For most parts, I think I try and stay aggressive and using the bounce. That wasn't a technique I used to use as an amateur. That is something I first learned when I came to America, and playing on bermudagrass in Florida helped me a lot with that.

So, yeah, I would say I just try and imagine the shot and be creative with that.

Q. What does your typical setup look like for greenside bunker shots?

LYDIA KO: I think weight distribution a little bit more on the left, which is something that Sean Foley taught me. He said it's kind of like the insurance, and then I can be as aggressive as I can making the kind of feel of the head going past the hands and using the bounce aggressively.

I think I always like to put the weight a little on the left side and from there I can just be super aggressive with it.

Q. Last one. Do you have a favorite drill you use practicing from greenside bunkers or a specific practice routine you follow?

LYDIA KO: I don't think so. I think when I chip around the greens I use my 58- or 54-degree. If I have a longer 30-, 40-yard shot in the bunker, then I might use my 50-degree on top of that or a pitching wedge.

Just trying to be creative, and that way I don't have to like smash my super high lofted wedge. Another thing I do is draw a line right behind my ball and make sure I deliver the club as close to that line as possible, that way I'm delivering the club consistently, which means I can control the spin and the contact.