Ko wins Women’s Open to end eight-year major drought
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko ends an eight-year major drought with victory at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
Lydia Ko ended an eight-year major drought by claiming the AIG Women’s Open after a tense finish in blustery conditions at St Andrews.
The New Zealander, who won the Olympic gold medal earlier this month, birdied the last as she closed with a three-under-par 69 to win her third major on seven under.
Last year’s champion Lilia Vu failed to hole a 15-foot birdie putt on the last to force a play-off and then missed from 12 inches to gift Ko a two-shot victory.
World number one Nelly Korda led by two on the 14th tee but took seven shots on the par-five hole and then bogeyed the 17th as she faded to finish alongside Vu, Ruoning Yin and Jiyai Shin in joint second on five under.
England’s Lottie Woad won the Smyth Salver as low amateur, birdieing the last to finish on one under.
Ko was the youngest woman to win a major when she won the Evian Championship at the age of 18 in 2015.
She followed that with victory in what is now the Chevron Championship in 2016 but, despite having 11 top-10 finishes in the majors since then, she had been unable to add to her tally.
On winning at St Andrews, she said: “It’s pretty surreal.
“I had two goals coming into today, making a par on 11 and a birdie on 18 and I achieved both.”
When asked where she would rank this victory, she replied: “That’s like asking me who I like best, my mum or dad.”
More to follow.
