Ko stamps her mark on Gainbridge LPGA

January 31st, 2022 / Anthony Powter

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko secured a one-shot victory over Danielle Kang on Sunday to win the Gainbridge LPGA title at Boca Rio in Florida.

Ko finished at 14-under to earn her 17th LPGA victory and become the first player to reach 17 wins before the age of 25 since Nancy Lopez in 1979. Ko’s last victory was at the 2021 Lotte Championship.

Lydia Ko Lydia Ko (Credit: LPGA Tour)

The 24-year-old achieved her breakthrough with a brilliantly judged right-to-left birdie putt at the 15th hole, which Kang, who won the LPGA season-opener last week, was only able to par and then held her nerve for par after two bunker shots at 18.

“It’s definitely good momentum going into the rest of the year,” said Ko. “If somebody asked me, ‘Hey, do you think you’re going to win this week? I’m not sure I would have said yes.’”

WITB: Lydia Ko

  • Titleist Pro V1x (2021) Golf Ball
  • Titleist TSi3 Driver (9º)
  • PXG 0341 X GEN2 (15º, 18º)
  • PXG 0317 X GEN2 (19º, 22º)
  • Titleist T200 (5)
  • PXG 0311 P GEN3 (6-PW)
  • PXG 0311 Milled Sugar Daddy Wedge (54º)
  • PXG 0311 Milled “Lydia” (58º)
  • PXG Custom Putter

“I feel like it’s been much more consistent. Last year, even though I didn’t win on the LPGA at the end of the year, I put myself in contention quite a bit and I think when you keep knocking on the door you feel like at one point it’s going to open.”

Ko also won on the European Tour last year at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in November.

With Sunday’s win she pocketed US$300,000 taking her career LPGA earnings to US$12.67 million and 9th on the all-time LPGA money list to surpass Hall of Famer Se-ri Pak.

Su Oh finished the best of the Australians in a share of 27th position with Karrie Webb in a share of 52nd position in her first LPGA tournament in 18 months.