Two pre-teen Kiwi golfers are set to receive mentoring and guidance from the women’s game’s world No 2, Lydia Ko.

Ko and New Zealand Golf have set up a scholarship programme for selected young golfers to travel to Ko’s training base in Florida for a week each year to spend time with the 18-year-old and learn what it takes to reach the sport’s pinnacle.

Anna Jiheh An, 11, and Priscilla Eujin Kang, 12, are the first recipients of the scholarship.

Ko said she was happy to give back to golf in her home country in whatever way she could.

“I am really pleased to be able to work with New Zealand Golf and in a small way help the next young golfers.

“I received assistance from so many people as I was growing up and it is nice to be able to give something back. I’m looking forward to spending time with the recipients and hopefully they enjoy their time with me.”

New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said the scholarships were a brilliant initiative which provided a truly remarkable opportunity for young New Zealand female players.

“Lydia shares New Zealand Golf’s goal of wanting to see more New Zealand golfers succeed on the international stage and we are delighted to be working closely with her on this initiative.

“Lydia is a wonderful ambassador for our sport and our country and this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the scholarship recipients.”

Ko’s decision to give back to the game here so early in her career was a testament to what sort of person she was, Murphy said.

“I cannot overstate how special an opportunity this is and for me, this underlines what a special person Lydia Ko is.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/69619126/lydia-ko-to-mentor-young-kiwi-golfers-in-scholarship-programme