Generous Ko kick-started the Australian Open after-party

Lydia Ko was all class after her victory at the Women’s Australian Open last weekend.

Great story from Mark Hayes at Golf Australia today on Lydia Ko’s classy gesture after her win at the Women’s Australian Open.

After Ko’s impressive two-stroke victory at Royal Melbourne on Sunday, Ko reportedly slipped an envelope containing $500 to the club’s assistant general manager to put on the bar for the post-tournament staff party.

Hayes writes that Royal Melbourne’s chief executive was gobsmacked:

Ko wandered up the clubhouse stairs to make her last brief scheduled stop at the champion’s cocktail party, then quietly slipped an envelope containing $500 into the hands of assistant GM Andrea Watson to kickstart the staff’s “after-party”.

It was the New Zealander’s way of saying thanks to all those who almost anonymously helped make her triumph so memorable on one of her favourite courses.

But Rak said it was the ultimate in class acts.

“I’ve worked in the golf industry for 40 years and I’ve never heard of anything like that – especially from a 17-year-old,” he said.

Classy stuff from anyone let alone a 17-year-old.