Ko has right temperament, work ethic and ability to handle stardom

Lydia Ko gets a double pucker from officials after her Evian Championship victory yesterday. Photo / AP

Oui, oui, oui. In Evian-les-Bains, the charming French town known for its curative mineral water, Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko cracked her first major and another piece of LPGA history.

Marketing for the Evian Championship near the shores of Lake Geneva focused extensively on Ko and her final chance to become the youngest LPGA major champion.

Billboards around the spa resort and widespread marketing displays headlined Ko and her record challenge.

She began with three strong scores before grabbing the title with an emphatic final round eight-under 63 for a six-shot victory.

The only surprise is that it's taken 17 majors for Ko's performance to match the marketing.

Now it is Charles, Campbell and Ko - New Zealand's golfing majesty who have climbed the peaks in their sport.

With this first major, speculation will accompany Ko every time she tees it up to see when she will add to her Evian crown.

Injury and her interest will be the obstacles to further success.

We don't know her future, whether she will decide to try another career in the States, opt out at the top as former No1 Lorena Ochoa did, suffer from injury like Michelle Wie or play longer than Laura Davies.

Ko is a phenomenal talent and anyone who has seen her play on course - or when Sky television used to broadcast events - gets to see a chunk of that ammunition.

She has plenty of game, obviously, a superb temperament, an unbeatable work ethic and the ability, already, to cope with the rising demands of life as a global professional golfer. Not just a golfer, Ko is a star golfer, a headline attraction.

Ko brings enough of her personality in and around the course to give a warm edge to her work. During a round, she will chat and laugh with her fellow competitors, no matter the pressure or the state of her golf.

At Clearwater this year, she lost a few shots in the swirling winds but did not change her attitude. She kept talking to others like Charley Hull, Su Oh or Guilia Sergas.

While No1-ranked Inbee Park is impassive on course and No3 Stacy Lewis appears irritable, Ko at work has poise and charm under pressure to cope with the humps and hollows of life on the LPGA tour.

Near Geneva, which is famous for fine watch production, Ko timed that run to a major perfectly.