Golf superstar Lydia Ko insists she hasn't changed

Lydia Ko is driven around Clearwater Golf Course by All Black Israel Dagg. Picture / Martin Hunter

When Lydia Ko played in a charity golf tournament on Auckland's North Shore after becoming the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour, there was little fuss. Few journalists turned up to the 2013 event, and those who did could talk freely to the then 16-year-old.

How that's changed since the South Korea-born New Zealander took over the top spot in the women's golf world rankings - and became the youngest golfer at 17 to achieve that.

She now has media minders, sponsorship deals with companies who pay to fly reporters to Christchurch for interviews and fans galore.

Despite sporting a new look without glasses, a new tattoo on her wrist and multiple ear-rings, the golfing superstar insists little has changed.

She's been called a prodigy and a teen marvel by the media, but said yesterday she was still "just Lydia".

"I just want to be Lydia at the end of the day, and just a golfer and just enjoy what I do," Ms Ko said.

"All those names that are said are what somebody else said [about] me and not what I think of myself."

Last night she signed a new sponsorship deal with Kiwi-born flight drink 1Above, which its makers say features a natural bark extract which helps fight the severity and length of jetlag.

Ko said travel was a big part of being a professional golfer and, while she enjoyed travelling, jetlag could affect how she played the game.

"It doesn't matter whether it's business or economy or whatever, I enjoy it but at the same time my body definitely felt fatigue," she said.

She was excited to have the support of 1Above.

"I know I am going to arrive ready and take on the best female golfers from around the world."

1Above chief executive Stephen Smith said the company was thrilled to be sponsoring Ms Ko.

"Lydia's representing New Zealand on the world stage every week and making us all very proud of her," Mr Smith said. The signing of Ko's sponsorship deal followed a packed press conference for the ISPS Handa NZ Women's Open at the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch where she was under the close watch of her Korean American agent Michael Yim.

Cameras started flashing even as Ko walked up the stairs and before she entered the conference room. Journalists who tried to speak to Ms Ko outside were basically told by Yim to buzz off.

After the press conference Ko was seen riding in a buggy with All Black Israel Dagg.

There were rumours the pair were off to film an advertisement.