Lydia Ko off to solid start in this new season
Lydia Ko has teed off her 2022 LPGA Tour calendar with a top10 finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida.
Related: Lydia Ko has an ambitious long-term goal and only a limited time to turn it into reality.
The 24-year-old Kiwi finished in a tie for 10th at the seasonopening event at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Orlando, after signing for a 2-over 74 in her final round yesterday to wrap it up on 4-under for the tournament. She had four bogeys and two birdies in a faltering finish after starting the day seven shots off the lead.
The event was won by American Danielle Kang who stormed home with a closing 4-under 68 to ease clear of Canada’s Brooke Henderson by three shots. Kang finished at 16-under 272.
It was Kang’s sixth career LPGA victory and her first since 2020 as she pocketed the winner’s cheque of US$225,000. Ko earned US$37,842 for finishing alongside Matilda Castern in 10th spot.
The American had six birdies and two bogeys as she went one better than her runner-up finish at the same event last year, when she was pipped by Jessica Korda.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez was third on 12 under, a shot behind Henderson, when she could only manage a final round of 72.
Watch: Lydia Ko gorgeous Swing & Slow Motion_Tour Swing Analysis: Lydia Ko
Condensed Final Round | 2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
Video from Lpga
Ko would have been happy enough with her first-up effort for 2022 as she went under-par through her first three rounds, and only faltered during a challenging final day. The Kiwi had bookended a second-round 4-under 68 with 1-under 71s.
Ko bogeyed the 1st and 4th in her closing round, gained a shot back at the par-4 5th, but coughed up further shots at the par-5 9th and par-4 16th.
Meanwhile, New Zealander Ryan Fox finished 61st at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Yas Links. Fox, 35, carded a final round 76 to finish four-over for the tournament.
Thomas Pieters claimed the sixth and biggest European tour title of his career by one shot. The Belgian, who turns 30 next week, shot an even par 72 in the final round for a total of 278 to edge Rafa Cabrera Bello and Shubhankar Sharma in joint second.
Read More: With earnings of NZ$2.061 million on the LPGA Tour so far in 2021, Ko has now banked NZ$17.401m in her illustrious career
Source: pressreader.com Images from getty images