Kiwi golfing superstar Lydia Ko has fired an early warning shot to her LPGA rivals this year, hitting a hole-in-one at Mangawhai's Tara Iti Golf Course over the Christmas-New Year break.
Ko, 25, finished 2022 in style, regaining the world's No.1 ranking, after winning the LPGA Tour Championship and the richest purse ever awarded in a women's tournament, US$2 million (NZ$3.1 million).
She also achieved a fantastic personal milestone - her marriage to Chung Jun last month.
If early indications are anything to go by, Ko is poised for another great year in 2023, posting her ace on Instagram as a picture story.
"Well, this was fun," she wrote. "Stunning views, amazing golf course and even better company... thank you, Tara Iti."
Playing with her husband, Ko carded a 63 around the private link course, highlighted by her single stroke on the second hole.
With a long-stated intention of retiring from professional golf by the age of 30, Ko is just one big win away from achieving LPGA Hall of Fame status.
The 2023 LPGA Tour schedule begins next weekend with the Tournament of Champions at Orlando, Florida.
