Lydia Ko secures Saudi Ladies International triumph
The Kiwi cards a final round 65 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Lydia Ko stormed to a five-stroke victory at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund with an impressive bogey-free 65 in the final round at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
The former World No.1 began the day on 16-under-par, having equaled the course record with a spellbinding 63 on Saturday, and quickly picked up where she left off with a birdie at the first on the final day in King Abdullah Economic City.
The two-time Major winner continued her fine form with birdies at five and seven before she sank an eagle putt on the par-five ninth to make the turn in 31.
Another birdie on the 10th gave Ko a six-shot lead, before she picked up her final shot of the day on the 13th to post a winning total of 23 under par in the groundbreaking Ladies European Tour event in the Kingdom.
“When I was out there, I was just trying to play the best golf that I can. I knew a lot of the top names were playing really well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I was just trying to have my fair share of them and have fun out there,” said Ko.
“It helps when you’re going into the final round with a four-shot cushion, you could shoot the same score as others, but you have those shots from the last three days.
“I birdied the first hole and holed two really good putts for par on two and three which really set the momentum up, and from there I tried not to look back and just go forward.”
“Hopefully, with the tournament being on here for the last couple of years, more and more women have the courage to take up golf and want to, in the future, come and play this event. It was really cool meeting a few of the Ladies First Club members over these past few days and to them, I’d just say keep working hard and show the power of women.”
Thailand’s Atthaya finished in second-place finish after a final round of 66, and in doing so, wrapped up the Race to Costa del Sol with two events to spare after reaching an unassailable 3,264.46 points.
“It’s an honour and it’s a really amazing feeling to win the Race to Costa del Sol this year in my rookie season as well, words can’t really describe it,” said Atthaya, who becomes the youngest winner of the season-long rankings.