Lydia Ko becomes youngest ever winner of Women’s Australian Open

Lydia Ko plays it tall, cool and smart to win the 2015 Women’s Australian Open.

Lydia Ko has become the youngest ever winner of the Women’s Australian Open when she beat Korean Amy Yang by two strokes at Royal Melbourne today.

Ko was tied for the lead with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn going into the final round. Jutanugarn’s run at the title fell away after three bogey’s in her opening seven holes but the big challenge came from South Korea’s Amy Yang.

As a big storm cell whipped around Melbourne, a lightning strike in the area meant tournament organisers were forced to halt play for 90 minutes.

Play was suspended just as Ko had made an uncharacteristic bogey at the 8th hole, and Yang has given herself a look at eagle after a superb approach to the 10th hole.

The break seemed to work in Ko’s favour. Yang just missed the eagle putt and Ko never made another bogey, playing her final 10 holes in 2-under par. On the slick greens of Royal Melbourne, it was seriously good golf. Just 11 players finished the tournament under par.

“I think that break was really good for me,” Ko said. “I had some lunch and got my stuff together there and I played much better after that.”

Ko said after the round that she used her coaches phrase; ‘Be tall, be cool, be smart’ to push her to victory – a reference to staying tall over the golf shot, cool in the hot Melbourne conditions and smart around the golf course.

“Just play safe when you need to and be aggressive,” Ko said. “Play smart was really the biggest thing he told me at the start of the week.”

At just 17-years, Ko looks unstoppable and one has to wonder just how dominant she may become. Her victory today was her ninth win since turning professional in October 2013. Remarkable.

 

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