Lydia Ko wins AIG Women’s Open after epic finish

There was time for one more fairytale in this golden summer of Lydia Ko as the superstar from New Zealand claimed an epic victory at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews. 

Ko – who completed the Olympic medal slam in Paris just two weeks ago – outlasted her world class challengers in the howling wind and rain to win her first major title in almost nine years.

The former world No.1’s crowning moment on the Old Course came courtesy of a spectacular finish in an absorbing battle with Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu.

In the driving rain on the notoriously difficult 17th, the Road Hole, Ko struck a piercing hybrid on a tight line down the left and set up a fine birdie chance. That attempt stayed up, but Ko remained composed.

• Major champion announces shock retirement aged 36

• R&A announces record AIG Women’s Open prize money

She sauntered down the last, enjoying the most famous walk in golf as the rain cleared, before knocking a wedge to six feet and holing the putt to post a sublime three-under 69.

Then, as she went through the motions on the adjacent putting green, Ko waited.

Korda was for so long the favourite on Sunday and led by two on the 14th tee, but her challenge started falling apart with a disastrous double bogey from nowhere on that par-5.

Then the defending champion Vu, who was hiding in plain sight for so much of the week, had a chance to make birdie and force a playoff on 18. This was Ko’s only remaining hurdle.

Vu was in prime position after her tee shot landed just short of the Valley of Sin, but her nervy approach had lacked control. The American then left her birdie putt agonisingly and unforgivably short.

Finally, for the first time in majors since the Chevron Championship in 2016, Ko’s moment had arrived.

The garlanded 27-year-old now has three major titles to her name and this time, has emerged as the best player on the most famous course of all.

“It is surreal,” she beamed afterwards. “Winning the gold medal in Paris a few weeks ago was almost too good to be true. Heading into the weekend I thought ‘how is it possible for me to win the Open’.

“It is the most Cinderella like story these past two weeks. This is almost too good to be true. Out of all the major championships this was the one I had the least amount of confidence in. To be holding this trophy now, it is some achievement.

“I thought to myself because of the last few weeks it is not going to happen. So don’t overact and play the shot in front of you. My two goals were to par the 11th and birdie the 18th, I achieved both. This is such a special place.

“All my achievements are special, even the silver and bronze at the Olympics. I always said I wanted to win another major championship. Here I am now as a three-time major champion.”

Of course, the cream has long since risen to the top at St Andrews and Ko is just that. Fellow former world No.1s Stacey Lewis and Lorena Ochoa have won the last two editions of this tournament played across these hallowed grounds. From the men’s game, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus barely scratch the surface.

In a Hall of Fame career, Ko has more than earned her right to share such esteemed company.

She has long flirted with the idea of an early retirement but on the evidence of this fairytale last two weeks, Ko still has so much more to give.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.