Golf: Ko could climb to No1 with victory

Lydia Ko is trying not to push too hard in the year's fourth major. Photo / AP

World No2 Lydia Ko is taking a different approach to the year's fourth major, the Wegman's PGA Championship in New York, as she looks to secure a major breakthrough.

The 17-year-old from the Gulf Harbour Country Club once again has the chance to become the youngest major champion in history when she tees off at the Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford tomorrow morning (NZ time).

If she can achieve her first major title, the Pinehurst School student will also become the World No1 as long as Stacy Lewis doesn't finish solo second in the event.

Ko, who has recorded eight top-10 finishes and won two titles on the LPGA Tour in her rookie season, is trying to treat the PGA like any other week on tour.

"Winning would be great, but I'm just going to take it day by day," Ko said yesterday.

"If it goes my way, great, and then I become World No1, it's even better. But I'm not going to think about it. I'm just going to try and enjoy it and try to think of it as a normal, another LPGA event."

Ko's best finish in a major remains her runner-up at the 2013 Evian Championship in France when she was still an amateur.

Her best finish this season, as a professional, in a major championship is a tie for 15th at the US Women's Open.

The former New Zealand Open Champion admitted she has been guilty of getting ahead of herself and pushing too hard.

"To me, I didn't perform that well when I thought, 'Oh my God, it's a major. You need to play,' so I'm going to try to think of it as just another tournament, and hopefully I'll hit some good shots and roll in some putts."

Ko will have a good look at her main rival as she will play her first two rounds alongside Lewis and Swedish major champion Anna Nordqvist in one of the tournament's feature groups.