Lydia Ko in danger of missing first LPGA cut after bizarre tree incident
Ahead of this week’s Volunteers of America North Texas LPGA Shootout, world No. 1 Lydia Ko said she would donate her entire check for the week to charities helping Nepal after the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that has left over 5,000 dead.
Unfortunately, Ko is in danger of not receiving a check and missing her first-ever LPGA cut after an opening 4-over 75 at Las Colinas C.C. in Irving, Texas.
Ko’s entire round was stymied by an unfortunate three-hole stretch on the back nine. Coming to the tee at the par-4 14th, Ko was 2 under par on the round. However, her third shot landed in a tree and, despite the best efforts of her tree-climbing caddie Jason Hamilton, the ball would not fall to the ground. In the end, LPGA rules officials — perhaps mistakenly — declared Ko could take an unplayable lie en route to a triple-bogey 7.
It didn’t get better from there, with Ko going double bogey, bogey on the next two par 4s.
In 50 career LPGA starts, both as an amateur and a pro, Ko has never missed the cut.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
