New Zealand Golf CEO Dean Murphy claims Lydia Ko has been rocked by the public backlash over an application for nearly $200,000 in public funding.
Despite Ko being a professional, NZ Golf has applied for HPSNZ funding to support the world number four.
Murphy has told Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitchsome of the feedback has been downright offensive, and it's shaken her.
"She's really worried about it. Her management team certainly are really worried about it and she's got an event to play next week and right now she's wondering what media questions are going to be asked of her and if she's going to continue to get this abuse while she's trying to be focused on playing.''
Murphy says reports of Ko having large endorsement deals are off the mark, and the actual sum she receives is far less than what's been reported.
