Lydia Ko lastly conquered the LPGA’s HSBC Ladies’s World Championship, clinching her first title on her eleventh try with a dominant four-stroke win over Ayaka Furue and Jeeno Thitikul in Sunday’s remaining spherical.
The 2024 Olympic gold medalist and Ladies’s British Open champion overcame a middling begin earlier than discovering her rhythm with a birdie on the par-5 sixth.
Ko added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and eight, seizing management of the leaderboard from then on.
Regardless of dropping two bogeys after the flip, the world No. 3 closed with a strong 69, sealing a 13-under-par 275 complete at Sentosa Golf Membership.
“I dreamt final evening that I gained however then I awoke, and I used to be like, dang, it’s not actual but,” stated Ko, who secured her twenty third LPGA title and her first victory because the Kroger Queen Metropolis Championship final September. “However I simply wished to concentrate on my recreation.”
“I began off actually regular, and , didn’t actually put myself in bother that a lot. I believe that was going to be the important thing for at this time.”
Ko’s earlier greatest end right here was a lone second place in 2015.
“It’s thrilling to lastly add Asia’s main to my main assortment,” the New Zealander stated.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul fought onerous to chase Ko down, however her cost fell simply quick.
Jeeno fired a 70, ending at 9 below, tied for second with Japan’s Ayaka Furue, who carded a closing 68. The Thai star made an early push with two birdies within the first 4 holes to path Ko by a stroke at 9-under however couldn’t keep the stress.
Charley Hull, only one shot behind Ko coming into the ultimate spherical, noticed her title hopes fade after a irritating 74, settling for a share of fourth at seven below alongside Im Jin Hee, who fired the day’s greatest spherical of 67, and Gaby Lopez (70).
The Singapore event is the second of three occasions on the LPGA’s first Asian swing of the yr. The ultimate occasion might be performed subsequent week at Hainan Island, China.