Kiwi Lydia Ko has produced a dramatic victory at the latest LPGA tournament in OH, prevailing in a tense playoff.
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After starting two shots off the lead, Ko is three-under through seven holes to lead by two shots over Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn. Tied for the first-round lead with Angel Cabrera after a 65, Vegas had a 17-under 125 total – a shot off the PGA Tour record for strokes in the first two rounds. The American, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury, registered three birdies in the last four holes to jump up the leaderboard.
Ko, whose back-to-back wins in California this year included her second major title at the ANA Inspiration, said her round wasn’t much different from her opening 68.
It was the fourth time she had won a play-off, with only one loss in her five attempts.
Flashbacks of the US Open slipping from her grasp a week ago, tormented women’s world golf number one Lydia Ko as she battled for victory in the latest LPGA tour event in Ohio.
“Just to see a putt drop for birdie I think kind of got my emotions going”, Ko said.
Michael Johnson, the former Auburn player making his pro debut, was tied for fourth at 11 under with five holes to go.
Lydia Ko became the undisputed teen queen of the LPGA Tour when she topped the 2015 money list with $2,800,802 and was named Player of the Year.
Jutanugarn put together a successful front nine that included four birdies, but she was unable to mirror her performance on her back nine where she made a birdie and a bogey.
“In the U.S. Open, you know, obviously really tough course last week”, said Shon.
“That was just the peak of the round”, Vegas said of his 190-yard seven-iron from off the tee at 17.
She said she usually got nervous in playoffs but was getting better at playing under pressure.
American Brittany Lang, victor of the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday, shot 69 to trail by five strokes.
Cabrera, 2007 U.S. Open champion and 2009 Masters victor, is one of two major champions in the field at the PGA Tour event played opposite the British Open.
In 2015, Chella Choi needed just one playoff hole to beat rookie Jang Ha-Na and earn her first US Tour victory.
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“I just had to stay confident and think with the two-putt par five finishing holes, anything can happen”. He had an eagle, eight birdies and a double bogey.
