Rolex world No. 1 Lydia Ko and No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn didn’t wait until Thursday’s start of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to square off for the first time in 2017.
They played a practice round together Tuesday.
Actually, that’s part of what they hope is a new perk now that they are both being trained under the same coach, Gary Gilchrist. He’s encouraging his players to compete together in practice rounds when they’re back home at their Orlando bases.
“I think it’s great,” Ko said. “I think it just shows what kind of a coach Gary is, and at the same time, it gives trust to me, trying to see what he’s done with these girls.