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Ko backs a Masters for women

Dave Reardon

After a brief taste of playing at Augusta National, the No. 1-ranked female golfer in the world likes the idea of a women’s Masters tournament.

“I don’t know if it will ever happen. But sure, I’m like Paula (Creamer), I’m for it,” Lydia Ko said Tuesday in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Creamer, an 11-year LPGA veteran and 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion, tweeted and talked last year about a women’s Masters tournament.

Ko, who is in Hawaii to play in the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship, caddied for PGA Tour pro Kevin Na at the Masters par-3 event last week. She was asked to tee off at the 9th hole at Augusta National and obliged, her shot stopping within 3 feet of the hole for an easy birdie.

“It was a little bit difficult,” Ko said Tuesday, when asked about swinging a club while wearing the caddies’ trademark white overalls. “But the shot turned out pretty good. I’m just glad it didn’t go in the water. Augusta was a lot of fun.”

Ko was there to receive the Golf Writers Association of America’s Player of the Year Award for 2015. Jordan Spieth won the men’s award.

Ko, who turns 19 later this month, became in 2015 the youngest player of either gender to be ranked No. 1. The South Korea-born citizen of New Zealand is coming off two victories in a row, including her second major, at the ANA Inspiration two weeks ago.

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