Lydia Ko finally has that third golf major title.
The Kiwi superstar has capped the biggest fortnight of an already glittering career by winning the AIG Women’s Open at the home of golf, the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.
Two weeks after claiming an Olympic gold medal in Paris, Ko stayed the course in a rain and windswept final stretch, nailing a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th to break clear of a three-way tie for the lead and claim the spoils.
It is the 27-year-old’s third major title but first in more than eight years, having won her first two consecutively at the end of the 2015 (Evian Championship in France) and start of 2016 (ANA Inspiration in California) seasons.
Ko walked to the 17th tee, the famous Road Hole at St Andrews, in a four-way share of the lead at six-under par, which included world No 1 Nelly Korda, defending champion Lilia Vu and third round leader Jiyai Shin, but it was the Kiwi who held her nerve when it mattered.
When Vu missed a potentially playoff-forcing putt on the 18th, confirming Ko’s victory. the Kiwi broke into tears for the second time in two weeks, another emotional win with her family onlooking.
“It’s pretty surreal,” she said of winning the Olympics and British Open this month.
“I’ve had the most Cinderella-like story this past few weeks and this is almost too good to be true and of all the major championships, I think this one, I had the least amount of confidence, just because I haven’t had as much experience playing on links and just the results didn’t follow either.
“To be holding this trophy right now, I can’t believe it.”
