Lydia Ko wins big in second Saudi Ladies International victory
Lydia Ko – photo Ladies European Tour
World number one Lydia Ko has consolidated and extended her lead in the Rolex World Ranking with a narrow one shot victory at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in Saudi Arabia and in doing so secured her second largest cheque in the game (US$702,000).
The figure is second to only the US$2,000,000 she won when winning the Tour Championship late last year.
The event, funded by the Saudi Arabian Investment Fund, carried a total purse of US$5 million and while not an LPGA Tour event (it was part of the Ladies European Tour’s schedule) it provided a huge boost in earnings for many in the field including Ko and the runner-up Aditi Ashok of India who secured US$420,000 for her runner-up finish.
Ashok has recorded a win, a 3rd place and now a runner-up finish in three Ladies European Tour events this year.
The victory, in her first outing of 2023 after being recently married, was Ko’s second in the event having also won in 2021.
“When I came in 2021 I thought the course conditions were really good, but I came here again two years later and it’s even better,” said Ko. “The rough was a little bit more up so it felt a little different in ways.
“But, yeah, when you’re playing in really good conditions, you just know that you got to hit good, committed shots, and then you’re able to get good feedback off that. The course has been great to me.
“Hopefully I’m going to get some good momentum. I’m playing the next couple weeks, so the next week will be my first LPGA event of the season in Thailand. Not so long flight over to Thailand and start my season on that tour.
“Every day is different, so I don’t think you can take anything for granted. I’m just going to stick to my process and keep working on the things I’ve been working on and enjoy it. Hopefully this is a light to a good start of the 2023 season.”
Ko has been working with a new caddie this week although David Jones has worked for her once previously when successful at the 2021 Lotte Championship and she mentioned how that familiarity has helped in the transition.
Ko ended what had been a particularly successful relationship with her previous caddie Derek Kistler despite a win in her last event, the Tour Championship.
“Yeah, this is our second win together. Our first win was my first win in three years, which was at LOTTE Championship in 2021. I had worked three events prior to that with him. I worked the Scottish Open and the British Open and then the BMW Championship as well.
“So he is a new face, but like someone similar that I know that we have good chemistry. Dave, because he used to play, I feel like he has the mindset of a player and he’s very positive. Even when I don’t hit a good shot, he’s out there thinking, what can we do to recover from here.
“So I try and be more positive when I’m on the golf course, and he definitely helps me with that. I think his knowledge with that playing background I think helps.
“So just having somebody that I can rely on and believe and trust, I think is very important, whether it’s (indiscernible) or not, that’s a secondary thing, but I trust him. So even though this was our first official week together, it didn’t feel like it.”
Stephanie Kyriacou was the only other Australasian to make the weekend and finished 50th.
