Lydia Ko takes back world No. 1 with commanding 9-shot win in Taiwan
Lydia Ko is once again No. 1 in the world after winning the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship on Sunday by a dominating nine shots.
Ko, who entered the final round with a four-shot lead, shot 7-under 65 at Miramar Golf & Country Club to coast to victory and surpass Inbee Park for the top ranking in women’s golf. The Kiwi finished with a 72-hole total of 20-under 268.
So Yeon Ryu and Eun-Hee Ji finished tied for second at 11 under par. Solheim Cup teammates Charley Hull and Suzann Pettersen, at the epicenter of the controversy during the biennial competition, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
On the day, Ko dropped just one shot, at the par-3 seventh, after opening with four birdies in the first six holes. On the back nine, Ko closed with an eagle at the par-5 12th and a pair of birdies, including at the last to wrap up the tournament.
A week ago in South Korea, Ko had a 54-hole lead and a chance to take No. 1 from Park at the LPGA KEG HanaBank Championship, but lost the lead and the tournament to Lexi Thompson, who became the first American-born player to win the LPGA’s only event in South Korea.
For Ko, it’s her fifth win this season and 10th for her career, making her the youngest player to ever reach double-digit LPGA victories. However, she probably still doesn’t have the edge on the Tour’s Player of the Year honors over Park, who won two majors this year to Ko’s one, her breakthrough win at The Evian Championship to become the youngest modern major champion in history.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
