NAPLES: New Zealand teen Lydia Ko (pic) parred the fourth playoff hole to beat Carlota Ciganda and win the LPGA Tour Championship, completing a US$1.5 million (RM4.95 million) haul on Sunday that included a season points crown.
Lydia tapped in for par on the final extra hole after her Spanish rival buried her approach under a bush, giving the Seoul-born 17-year-old her third title of her first full LPGA season.
“This has been a big year, a roller coaster ride,” Lydia said. “I’ve learned so much this year. Winning these playoffs I’ve learned a lot. I think it’s going to be even better next year.”
It will be hard for Lydia to top the richest payday in women’s golf history, the US$500,000 tournament top prize and the US$1 million season points bonus, an actual box filled with money.
“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen that much cash in one place before,” Lydia said. “This year has been awesome.”
Lydia, Paraguay’s Julieta Granada and Ciganda each finished 72 holes on 10-under par 278 to force a playoff, staged entirely on the 18th hole at Tiburon Golf Club.
Lydia had already clinched the LPGA season points bonus prize, edging American Stacy Lewis for the big payoff by virtue of her top-three finish, but had another fight to win the season-ending event.
All three parred the first playoff hole but Julieta lipped out a three-foot par putt on the second extra trip to the 18th, leaving Lydia and Carlota to fight for the crown.
On the third extra visit to the course’s second-hardest hole of the week, Carlota dropped her approach six feet from the hole. Lydia came up inches short from 30 feet but Carlota missed right of the cup and both parred to extend the drama.
On the fourth playoff hole with sunset approaching, Carlota’s approach trickled down a slope and under a lakeside bush in a hazard beyond the green. She took a drop and was well short with a chip. Lydia then two-putted from 25 feet for the title. AFP