Lydia Ko blasts out of a bunker on her way to winning the Canadian Open tournament for the third time.
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“I had an unbelievable week”.
Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, reacts to missing a shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open golf tournament at Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, British Columbia, on Sunday, August 23, 2015.
It’s the third Canadian Open title for Ko, who previously won in 2012 and 2013. This year, she collects $337,500.
“I didn’t have many birdie opportunities”, Ko said. “It’s just great to be back in the winners’ circle”.
This time, however, she needed to outlast American Stacy Lewis in a playoff for the win.
Kung, who slid out of contention quickly with a poor front nine, recovered somewhat to finish tied for fifth with Alison Lee, two shots out of the playoff and one behind defending champion So Yeon Ryu, who shot a course-record-tying 64, and Sei Young Kim.
“If you would have told me at the beginning of the day I was going to be in a playoff, I would have been happy”, said the Woodlands, Texas, resident, who earned US$206,304. “I still left a few out there”.
She and Ko bumped fists on the 18th tee before starting the playoff. She had set it up with a 50-foot putt from the edge of the green.
That’s world No. 2 edging world No. 3 on the first extra hole, which is as close as it gets. “I said ‘I have to just concentrate on my game’. There are a lot of people out here, and I wanted to thank everyone for their support”. “I made a really good first putt on my normal 72nd hole, and made a good putt on the first playoff hole”.
Ko began the day in a share of the lead and moved out to a two-shot lead following a birdie on the par three third. There was the Sunday duel between Ko and Lewis with the cast of Braveheart chasing them on the back nine. “I think today I did that”.
Ko missed the ninth green with a wedge, took three to get down from the fringe and seemingly invited the field back into the tournament.
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Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson, fresh off her maiden LPGA win, finished at four under in a tie for 23rd in her quest to be the first Canadian victor since Jocelyne Bourassa won the inaugural event in 1973. She won as an amateur in 2012 and successfully defended a year later while still an amateur.
