Ko hands Kang LPGA Classic victory, Minjee Lee 4th

August 10th, 2020 / Anthony Powter

Minjee Lee has finished 4th at the Marathon LPGA Classic, two strokes behind eventual leader, American Danielle Kang who overcame a five shot deficit to win her second straight LPGA Tour event.

Kang began her rally with consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes at Highland Meadows, and then only needed pars for a 3-under 68 after Lydia Ko took a double bogey on the final hole to throw away her chance at victory.

Danielle Kang Danielle Kang (Credit: LPGA Tour)

Ko was poised to win for the first time in more than two years but the double bogey on the last saw her finish one behind Kang. The loss cutting deep into Ko as she struggles to find the form she enjoyed as a teenager and setting numerous records in the process.

When Ko secured the NSW Open on the ALPG Tour in 2012 at 14 years she was the youngest to win a professional tournament. A victory at the CP Women’s Open in August 2012 made her the youngest to win on the LPGA Tour and she was still an amateur.

When she won the Women’s Canadian again the next year, she applied for LPGA membership before going on to win the Evian Championship and the ANA Inspiration to become the youngest player to hold two majors.

WITB: Danielle Kang

  • Titleist Pro V1x Golf Ball
  • Titleist TS3 Fairway (5W)
  • Titleist 816 H2 Hybrids (19º, 23º)
  • Titleist 716 CB (5-9)
  • Titleist Vokey SM7 (46º, 50º, 54º, 58º)
  • Scotty Cameron Prototype Putter
  • TaylorMade M4 Driver (8.5º)

Ko has now gone 44 tournaments worldwide since her last victory since the LPGA Mediheal Championship in April 2018.

Katherine Kirk was the next best of the Australians finishing in a share of 65th position. Sarah Kemp and Sarah Jane Smith missed the weekend.

Kang, who won last week at nearby Inverness Club, currently has five LPGA Tour career wins to her credit and is giving herself a chance to become just the third American to ascend to world No. 1 since the rankings were established in 2006.

Fourteen players have reached Rolex world No. 1 in the 14-year history of the rankings, just two of them from the US including Cristie Kerr and Stacy Lewis.

The LPGA Tour, which only recently resumed after six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, heads to Scotland for two weeks for the Ladies Scottish Open and the Women’s British Open.