Ko Considers Surgery on Wrist


Despite her youth, New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko has been dealing with an injury caused by over-practicing.

The 17-year-old, who's won twice on the LPGA Tour as an amateur and two more times since turning pro nearly a year ago, has been coping with a painful cyst on her left wrist that has increased in size the past few weeks.

Ko, currently ranked No. 3 in the world behind American Stacy Lewis and South Korea's Inbee Park, returned home Sunday night after playing in the Canadian Women's Open - where she finished with a 76 and tied for 55th.

Back in Florida she visited Dr. Bruce Thomas, the tour's medical director. According to Ko's IMG agent, Michael Yim, she underwent an MRI and then had the cyst drained. Ko is not in Oregon for this week's Portland Classic.

Ko intends to play in the LPGA final major tournament, the Evian Championship on September 11-14 in France. Also on her schedule is the following week's Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala.

Ko has had the cyst - caused by years of hitting practice balls - drained before. She hopes that will be enough, but ultimately may have to surgically remove it, which would entail a two-month healing period.