Olympic champion Lydia Ko ends eight-year Major drought with Women’s British Open win
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ST ANDREWS – Lydia Ko said she had enjoyed a “Cinderella” story after ending an eight-year wait for a Major title by winning the Women’s British Open at St Andrews on Aug 25, just a fortnight on from her Olympic triumph in Paris.
The New Zealander finished in champion style with a superb birdie on the 18th hole of a windswept Old Course to complete a round of three-under 69 and claim her third Major title, her first since the 2016 ANA Inspiration (now called the Chevron Championship), with a seven-under 281 total.
“It is surreal. Winning the gold medal in Paris a few weeks ago was almost too good to be true. Heading into the weekend I thought ‘how is it possible for me to win the Open?” the 27-year-old, who took home the US$1.425 million (S$1.85 million) cheque – the highest amount in the event’s 48-year history – told Sky Sports.
“This is almost too good to be true. Out of all the Major championships, this was the one I had the least amount of confidence in.”
Ko, who as a 17-year-old became the youngest player to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf, added: “It is the most Cinderella-like story these past two weeks. To be holding this trophy now, it is some achievement.
“I thought to myself because of the last few weeks it is not going to happen. So don’t overreact and play the shot in front of you. My two goals were to par the 11th and birdie the 18th, I achieved both. This is such a special place.
“I always said I wanted to win another Major championship. Here I am now as a three-time Major champion.”
When asked where she would rank this alongside her Olympic title and two other Majors, Ko replied: “That’s like asking me who I like best, my mum or dad.”
Defending champion Lilia Vu failed to sink a 15-foot birdie putt on the last at the “Home of Golf”, to force a play-off and then missed from barely 12 inches as Ko, already in the clubhouse, completed a two-shot victory.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda led by two strokes on the 14th tee of the renowned links course on Scotland’s east coast following a run of three birdies in four holes around the turn. But the American took seven shots on the par-five 14th.
Her bid for victory finally ended when she found the infamous Road Hole bunker on the 17th, which she subsequently bogeyed. Korda finished in joint-second place alongside Vu, Yin Ruoning and Shin Ji-yai on five-under 283.
“I had 58-degree (for my third shot), and it just shot on me,” Korda said of her double-bogey on the 14th. “The wedge shot I had over the green was sitting a little bit in a hole with some of ‘hay’ or whatever you call it behind it. I just couldn’t catch it cleanly and then obviously didn’t make the putt for bogey.”
England’s Charley Hull, who led after the first round at St Andrews to raise hopes of a first Major title after finishing runner-up in both the British Open and US Open in 2023, endured a frustrating final day with a 75 to end tied for 20th on one-over 289.
But compatriot Lottie Woad won the Smyth Salver, awarded to the tournament’s leading amateur, after a closing birdie for a 73 gave her a total of one-under 287.
The results also solidified the United States Solheim Cup team’s nine automatic qualifiers, leaving three captain’s picks for Stacy Lewis to name on Aug 27.
The top seven players in the US Solheim Cup team standings as at Aug 25 were Korda, Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang and Andrea Lee. Khang and Lee locked in their spots only on Aug 25, despite Khang missing the cut at the British Open and Lee tying for 22nd.
The team then took the two Americans ranked highest in the world rankings not already selected. Those were Rose Zhang, currently No. 9 in the world, and Alison Lee, ranked No. 25.
Singapore’s Shannon Tan carded a 75 to be tied-60th on seven-over 295 and won US$19,105. AFP, REUTERS
