Lydia Ko – stands proudly in front of golf’s headquarters with the coveted trophy -image R&A via Getty Images
Lydia Ko has added a third major championship title to her already amazing resume with two two-shot victory over a group of four golfers to win the AIG Women’s Open Championship over the Old Course at St Andrews.
The victory caps off a marvellous August for the 27-year-old New Zealander in which she has won the Olympic Gold, entered the LPGA Hall of Fame and now won a third major title some eight years after her second.
In trying wet and windy conditions for most of the week and again on Sunday, Ko overcame a three-shot 54 hole deficit to Jiyai Shin, emerging from an intense battle amongst some of the current game’s best to win by two over Shin, Ruoning Yu, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, all of whom have been recent world number ones.
Ko holed a sliding 10-footer from behind the hole at the last which gave her a one-shot cushion over those still on the course and as the challengers dropped away it became more and more obvious that her stoic final round under the most intense pressure and difficult overhead conditions would see her through.
Vu had one last chance at Ko when, needing to birdie the last, she hit her approach 20 or so feet beyond the hole and proceeded to three-putt to share second place two behind the winner.
Ko was still pinching herself when she arrived in the media centre after the post-round presentations.
“It’s been a crazy past few weeks,” she said. “You know, something that was too good to be true happened, and I honestly didn’t think it could be any better and here I am as the AIG Women’s Open Champion this week. Obviously being here at the Old Course at St Andrews, makes it so much more special.
“I just loved being out there this week. I had a lot of family members here with me. I played here when I was 16 in 2013, I think I was 16. I was 16. I don’t think I got to really enjoy and realise what an amazing place this is, and now that I’m a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I just got to realise what an historic and special place this golf course is, and it’s honestly been such a fairy tale.”
Ko was asked how she felt compared to her two previous successes at this level.
“I honestly — like the only bit I remember of winning the Chevron Championship, the ANA at the time, was jumping into Poppy’s Pond and holding my nose going down because I didn’t want to get water up my nose. That’s about it. It feels like it was such a long time ago.
“I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs between 2015, 2016 to 2024. A lot of things have happened. When things are going well, it’s kind of hard to think about when you’re not playing well because all you’re really doing is just enjoying that moment.
“And on the other hand, when things aren’t going well, you feel like you’re never going to get out of that lull. I’ve been in both of those positions. And you know, I thought, you know what, I’m very fortunate to say that I am a Major Champion and a two-time Major Champion. I’ve got nothing to lose in that sense.”
Korda was clearly gutted given that she began the week and the weekend as the favourite after regaining some of her early season from in recent weeks but was philosophical about the loss.
“Listen, it’s golf. I’m going to mess up and unfortunately, I messed up over the weekend twice in two penalising ways coming down the stretch. Theoretically, that’s what kind of cost me the tournament but I played well. I played solid. I even fought after that. I’m going to take that into the next coming events.”
Grace Kim (37th) and Stephanie Kyriacou (60th) were the only Australians to make the weekend.
