19 December 2013
ANZ gets behind Lydia Ko as she takes on the world
ANZ today announced it will be the first company in New Zealand to sponsor Kiwi golf prodigy and sporting sensation
Lydia Ko, as she embarks on her first year on the LPGA Tour in 2014.
The three-year sponsorship was announced in Auckland. A video of the announcement is available here.
“Lydia Ko is one of New Zealand’s best and brightest young sportspeople and we’re absolutely thrilled to support her as
she takes on the world,” ANZ Chief Executive Officer David Hisco said.
“As a brand that’s in every corner of the New Zealand, and with a global reach across Asia and beyond, it’s great to
help someone as talented as Lydia as she competes in the LPGA Tour.”
The 16-year-old former Pinehurst School student is now ranked No. 4 in the world after securing the Swinging Skirts
World Ladies’ Masters by three strokes in Taiwan on December 8 of this year.
This was the latest in a string of triumphs for the former World No.1 Amateur. In January 2012, Ko won the Bing
Lee/Samsung Women's NSW Open, becoming the youngest person to ever to win a professional golf tour event. She then went
on to win the CN Canadian Women's Open in August of 2012 and successfully defended her title in 2013, becoming the first
amateur in history to win two LPGA events. Ko turned professional in October 2013.
“It’s great to have the backing of ANZ at this crucial point in my career as I take on the international pro circuit and
the best female golfers in the world,” said Ko.
“ANZ understands that to achieve excellence and success in the toughest golf competition, I’m going to need a great team
behind me.”
The sponsorship sees Ko join a group of elite Kiwi athletes supported by ANZ. These include Olympic rowers Eric Murray,
Hamish Bond and Emma Twigg, along with former Olympians Sarah Ulmer and Hamish Carter, and Paralympic swimmers Rebecca
Dubber and Cameron Leslie.
“Elite level sport requires strength, perseverance and support. ANZ is incredibly proud to get behind our athletes as
they seek to be the best in the world. They are an inspiration to us all,” Mr Hisco said.
ENDS