Lydia Ko Wins in Hawaii -16th LPGA title.
Lydia Ko has tasted victory for the first time in three years, blowing the field away at the Lotte Championship to win by seven shots.
LPGA LOTTE Championship - Final Round
KAPOLEI, HAWAII - APRIL 17: Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the trophy after winning the LPGA LOTTE Championship at Kapolei Golf Club on April 17, 2021 in Kapolei, Hawaii. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Ko started the day one ahead of Nelly Korda at Kapolei Golf Club in Hawaii following rounds of 67, 63, and 65 to be 21-under par and have her first victory in 1,084 days in her sights.
The theme of the week was trusting and being fully committed to her game, one thing coach Sean Foley was sure Ko needed to do ahead of the final round today.
alt text
She did just that.
Ko began with two solid opening pars before making birdie at the third to move two shots clear of Korda. She’d then rattle off a string of pars before standing on the ninth where she’d make birdie to make the turn at two-under for the round and hold a fours shot lead over Korda and Sei Young Kim.
The 23-year-old began the back nine with intent, rolling in three more birdies from the 10th to the 12th to make four on the trot and have one hand on the trophy.
Ko then finished in style, adding another birdie at the 14th and another at the 17th to have the victory all but sealed. She made par up the last to cap off a memorable win and card a final round of seven-under par to finish 28-under for the tournament.
Many other players made a run at Ko throughout the final day. Inbee Park carded a nine-under 63 to finish in equal second at 21-under and was joined by Sei Young Kim, who had a final round 65 to join Park, Korda, and Leona Maguire.
alt text
Ko’s been knocking on the door in 2021 and most recently carded what many are lauding as the best ever major round, a 10-under 62 in the final round of the ANA Inspiration. Ko has had one other second-place finish and a tie for eighth.
Ko now has 16 LPGA Tour wins to her name.