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'Inches Away': Lydia Ko Hints at a Different Challenge Awaiting Next Week

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Sneha Abraham | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 3:04 PM ET

Lydia Ko shot a 12-under 60 to start the Ford Championship, but that hasn’t really been what everyone is talking about. The 27-year-old’s top-5 finish at Whirlwind Golf Club showed she’s in good form, though what she said after the round gave a different picture.

For her, the real issue was the greens. But it’s nothing dramatic, just enough to throw her off, and as the days went by, they got faster and firmer. She started second-guessing putts she’d normally make without thinking. A few short misses over the final two rounds added up, and she didn’t hide it; putting was her biggest frustration.

Now she heads to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, fully aware it won’t get any easier. That course demands precision, and she made it clear she knows exactly what’s coming.

“You have to be very precise with your numbers,” Ko said. “Your risk-reward, it could be really inches away. Playing smart is going to be crucial next week.”

One clear positive for her was the iron play at Chandler, and she’s been putting time into it, even at Whirlwind; it finally started to show.

“I felt like I hit my irons a lot better, which is one of the biggest things that I’ve been working on in my game,” she said. “It’s been nice to see that.”

But before she gets to Vegas, there’s one thing she wants to sort out.

Lydia Ko has a request for Shadow Creek’s Course Setup

Ko has played at Shadow Creek when it was very difficult, so she knows how it works. The course was fast and hard, and strong winds made it even tougher. So she does not want those conditions again.

Since this is a stroke-play event, she wants the course to be a little softer.

“We’ve played Shadow Creek in some crazy conditions, with it being very windy and firm,” Ko said. “I do hope it’s a little softer than previous years just because it is truly a stroke-play event.”

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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