Lydia Ko wins LPGA finale for record $2 million payout
Unflappable in a strong but occasional wind, Ko wiped away tears when she tapped in for par on the final at Tiburon Golf Club. Ko finished at 17-under 271 and won the LPGA Tour finale for the second time. Ko is on the verge of the LPGA Hall of Fame at age 25, a testament to how good she has been for so long. Ko, however, hit her second shot off the side of a hill and into the hazard, and she also made bogey to keep the lead at one shot. She now has 19 career victories — the first one was 10 years ago in Canada when she was a 15-year-old amateur, making her the youngest to win an LPGA Tour event.
wftv.comKo runs out to 5-shot lead at CME Group Tour Championship
NAPLES, Fla. — (AP) — Lydia Ko is in total control at the halfway mark of the CME Group Tour Championship. “I just wanted to focus on my game," said Ko, who turned a one-shot lead entering Friday to a five-shot edge when it was over. I shot a low one yesterday and that round, it can be anybody throughout the week." Ko entered the week with a one-point lead in the race for LPGA Tour player of the year. “I’m sure she’s going to keep going, so ultimately try and shoot as low as we can over the weekend and see what happens."
wftv.comLydia Ko takes step toward $2 million prize at LPGA finale
Ko responded with eight birdies, including four in a row late in the round at Tiburon Golf Club, that sent her to a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead in the LPGA Tour season finale. So much as at stake this week, even beyond the $2 million prize to the winner. Ko has a one-point lead in the race for LPGA Tour player of the year. I want to try to grab it when it's there.”It's all right in front of Ko, who has two wins in what she considers her most consistent year on the LPGA Tour. Lee, who already has set an LPGA Tour record with $3.7 million in earnings this season, opened with a 71.
wftv.comCorpuz grabs LPGA lead, faces top competition at Pelican
BELLEAIR, Fla. — (AP) — Allisen Corpuz is closing out a solid rookie year on the LPGA Tour, and now the Hawaii native has a chance to make it even better at the Pelican Women's Championship. Corpuz made four birdies in a six-hole stretch in the middle of her second round Saturday and had another 5-under 65, giving her a one-shot lead going into the final round of the penultimate LPGA Tour event of the year. Right behind Corpuz is a group of top contenders, making that one-shot lead feel even smaller. She was in a three-way tie for second going into the final round, which would be enough. “I think if you post a good round, that’s all really I can do.
wftv.comMaria Fassi delivers career-best 62 to take early LPGA lead
BELLEAIR, Fla. — (AP) — Maria Fassi always knew a good putting stroke to go along with her explosive power would lead to low scores. Fassi powered her way across the rain-softened Pelican Golf Club and rode a smooth putting stroke to an 8-under 62, her career low on the LPGA Tour, giving her an early two-shot in the Pelican Women's Championship. This is the final tournament before the leading 60 players qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship with its $7 million purse. “I think every single one of us out here wants to finish the year at CME,” Fassi said. It took her until her 15th start on the LPGA Tour to seriously contend, tying for third in Cincinnati.
wftv.comKo returns to country of her birth to win BMW Ladies
WONJU, South Korea — (AP) — Lydia Ko won her 18th career title in the country of her birth after completing a 7-under 65 final round at the BMW Ladies Championship on Sunday. Ko finished the South Korea-based tournament with a 21-under 267, four strokes ahead of Andrea Lee, who had a final round of 3-under 69. “This is probably the best I’ve played, the most consistently I’ve played,” Ko said. 7 before firing in six birdies to leave the rest of the pack behind. There was a three-way tie for third place with Hye-Jin Choi, Hyo Joo Kim and Lilia Vu all ending up at 16-under 272.
wftv.comLucy Li starts slow and finishes strong to lead LPGA Tour
Thompson was 12 when she first qualified for the U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles. Seven years later, Li broke her record when she qualified for the 2014 Women's Open at Pinehurst No. Li secured her LPGA Tour card for next year with two wins and a runner-up finish on the Epson Tour, which offers LPGA cards to its leading 10 players. Li received a sponsor's invitation in Canada last week and tied for ninth in the CP Women's Open, which got her into the field in Ohio. Now she has a chance to win and join the LPGA Tour for its final two months of the season.
wftv.comNarin An takes 2-shot lead in Canadian Pacific Women’s Open
OTTAWA, Ontario — (AP) — Narin An shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to top the leaderboard Friday in the suspended second round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. An had her second straight bogey-free round at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club after opening with a 64 on Thursday. An LPGA Tour rookie after winning twice in South Korea, the 26-year-old An had a 13-under 129 total. The third-ranked Korda was 11 under with Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea and first-round leader Paula Reto of South Africa. Maddie Szeryk was the top Canadian, shooting a 68 to get to 7 under.
wftv.comKo and Boutier tied for lead at Women's Scottish Open
IRVINE, Scotland — (AP) — Lydia Ko was joined by Celine Boutier at the top of the leaderboard after day three of the Women’s Scottish Open on Saturday. France's Boutier shot a 5-under-par 67 — five birdies on the front nine — to make up four shots on the New Zealander, who could manage only a 1-under 71. “I really like links golf and playing in windy conditions. “My irons were not as sharp so I don’t think I set myself up for as many easier kind of 15 feet and birdie opportunities,” she said. I don’t think it was as bad as I think, and I think because I had two really low rounds it makes me compare more to the past couple days."
wftv.comKo and Boutier lead Women's Scottish Open by 1 shot
IRVINE, Scotland — (AP) — Lydia Ko was joined by Celine Boutier at the top of the leaderboard after day three of the Women’s Scottish Open on Saturday. France's Boutier shot a 5-under-par 67 — five birdies on the front nine — to make up four shots on the New Zealander, who could manage only a 1-under 71. Canada's Maude-Aimee Leblanc started and finished with birdies for a 66 which lifted her to second place alongside Germany's Leonie Harm on 14 under, one shot off the lead. Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea (70) and Lilia Vu of the United States (71) were two off the lead going into the last round. 1-ranked Jin Young Ko was at 1 under overall, and defending champion Ryann O'Toole at 4 under.
wftv.comChun shoots 75, lead down to 3 at Women's PGA Championship
Womens PGA Championship Golf In Gee Chun, of South Korea, left, looks for her ball in the rough on the 16th hole during the third round in the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Congressional Country Club, Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Bethesda, Md. — (AP) — In Gee Chun shot a 3-over 75 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Women's PGA Championship. On a day when Congressional Country Club gave the leaders plenty of trouble, Chun was holding her own until she made a double bogey on the par-5 16th hole. She had a five-shot lead when she had to play her third shot from some tall grass on the 16th. ___Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comUS Open's $10M purse offers hope for gender pay equality
US Womens Open Golf Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, watches her shot off the fourth tee during a practice round for the the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The men's 2021 U.S. Open purse was $12.5 million, with $2.25 million going to champion Jon Rahm. That came after fans chanted "Equal pay!" That coupled with a better climate for social justice in the last two years is finally ramping up the discussions for equal pay. On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I hope sports can help lead the way for equal pay for women everywhere.”Female golfers are working hard to bridge the pay gap.
wftv.comMarina Alex wins LPGA Tour's Palos Verdes Championship
LPGA Tour Golf Marina Alex tees off at the fourth tee during the final round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — (AP) — Marina Alex won the Palos Verdes Championship on Sunday for her second LPGA Tour title, breaking a tie with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th and parring the final two holes for a one-stroke victory over Jin Young Ko. Three strokes behind Hannah Green entering the round, Alex closed with a 5-under 66 to finish at 10-under 274 at hilly and windy Palos Verdes Golf Club. She finished about an hour before Alex in the first-year event that wrapped up the LPGA Tour’s two-week, Los Angeles-area stay and five-tournament West Coast swing. Alex bogeyed the par-4 third, then birdied the par-4 fifth, par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth. Anna Davis, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner, closed with a 76 to finish 70th in her first LPGA Tour start.
wftv.comHannah Green takes 1-shot lead into Palos Verdes finale
LPGA Tour Golf Hannah Green tees off at the fourth tee during the third round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — (AP) — Hannah Green held onto the lead Saturday in the Palos Verdes Championship after a frustrating start on the hilly, windswept course perched above the Pacific Ocean. Green won both of her LPGA Tour titles in 2019, taking the major KPMG Women’s PGA at Hazeltine and the Portland Classic. Just felt confident coming into today.”Allisen Corpuz (68) also was 5 under with Gemma Dryburgh (68), Inbee Park (70), Marina Alex (70), Andrea Lee (70), Annie Park (71), Megan Khang (72) and first-round leader Minjee Lee (72). Anna Davis, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner, was 2 over after a 72 in her first LPGA Tour start. “To be able to play in on the weekend in an LPGA Tour event, it’s pretty good experience,” Davis said.
wftv.comHannah Green takes 1-stroke lead at LPGA Lotte Championship
EWA BEACH, Hawaii — (AP) — Hannah Green shot a 6-under 66 on Wednesday to take the lead after the first round of the LPGA Lotte Championship. Green had eight birdies, including five on the front nine, at breezy Hoakalei Country Club, a first-time venue in the 10th edition of the tournament. The Australian hit 11 of 14 fairways, 14 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 26 putts. “I just felt like with the putter I just needed to see a couple go in. The event was played at Ko Olina Golf Club for its first eight years, was canceled in 2020 and moved to Kapolei Golf Club last year.
wftv.comHannah Green takes early lead in LPGA Lotte Championship
EWA BEACH, Hawaii — (AP) — Hannah Green shot a 6-under 66 on Wednesday to take the lead halfway through the first round of the LPGA Tour's LPGA Lotte Championship. “I just felt like with the putter I just needed to see a couple go in. Jennifer Kupcho, coming a major victory two weeks ago at Rancho Mirage in the California desert, played in the afternoon. It is the 10th edition of the Lotte Championship, but the first time the tournament has taken place at Hoakalei Country Club. The event was played at Ko Olina Golf Club for its first eight years, was canceled in 2020 and it moved to Kapolei Golf Club last year.
wftv.comLydia Ko holds off Danielle Kang to win at Boca Rio on LPGA
LPGA Tour Golf Lydia Ko of New Zealand smiles as she holds her trophy after winning the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell)BOCA RATON, Fla. — (AP) — Lydia Ko pulled ahead with a birdie on the 15th hole and matched scores with Danielle Kang the rest of the way, closing with a 3-under 69 for a one-shot victory on a chilly Sunday in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. Ko won for the second straight season after enduring a three-year slump and picked up the 17th victory of her LPGA Tour career. Kang, who closed with a 68, was trying to win back-to-back for the second time in three years. The LPGA Tour now takes a one-week break before wrapping up its Florida swing at the LPGA Drive On Championship. ___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comLydia Ko handles the chill and wind for 2-shot lead on LPGA
Celine Boutier of France had the low round Saturday of 69 —arguably the best round of the young LPGA season — and climbed into contention. The 24-year-old Ko is seeking her 17th LPGA Tour title, having won her first when she was only 15. But Ko won last season again (Lotte Championship) and is carrying renewed confidence, climbing back to No. “I played really solid and I played really consistently, especially in the back half of my season last year. Kang won the season-opening Tournament of Champions last week with a 69-68 weekend in tough, cold conditions.
wftv.comKang contending again on LPGA, tied with Lydia Ko at Boca
BOCA RATON, Fla. — (AP) — A week-and-a-half into the 2022 LPGA Tour season, Danielle Kang has a new home. A winner in the season opener in Orlando last week, Kang birdied her final two holes Friday for a 4-under 68 to catch good friend Lydia Ko (70) in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rico. Ko, at 24 already a 16-time winner on the tour, considered her day to be a grind from start to finish. Until breaking through at Lake Nona last week, Kang had gone 17 months without winning. “It’s not just about today or tomorrow or this week or last week,” Kang said.
wftv.comLydia Ko builds on her rise back, opens with 63 at Boca Rio
“Hopefully I’ll be able to maintain the ‘goods’ from today the rest of the week,” said Ko, who had a bogey-free round. A short birdie lip-out at the par-5 eighth hole, her second-to-last hole of the day, kept top-ranked Nelly Korda from joining that group. Kang finished third at Boca Rio when it hosted the Gainbridge two years ago. Kang won and collected $225,000 on Sunday, and it might not have been her best day of the week. On Tuesday morning, Kang played golf with hockey great Wayne Gretzky at the ultra-private The Grove XXIII in nearby Hobe Sound.
wftv.comKo builds on her rise back and opens with 63 at Boca Rio
“Hopefully I’ll be able to maintain the ‘goods’ from today the rest of the week,” Ko said. A short birdie lip-out at the par-5 eighth hole, her second-to-last hole of the day, kept top-ranked Nelly Korda from joining that group. Kang finished third at Boca Rio when it hosted the Gainbridge two years ago. This may be difficult to believe: Kang won and collected $225,000 on Sunday, and it might not have been her best day of the week. On Tuesday morning, Kang played golf with hockey great Wayne Gretzky at the ultra-private The Grove XXIII in nearby Hobe Sound.
wftv.comThe 'Dinah' leaving desert as LPGA major gets new sponsor
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File) (Gregory Bull)Next year will be the final leap into “Poppie's Pond,” ending 40 years of the only LPGA major held on the same course and still known in some corners simply as the Dinah Shore. The LPGA Tour announced Tuesday that Chevron is taking over as title sponsor of the year's first major starting in 2023 with plans to move it from the California desert to company headquarters in Houston. “It will allow us to elevate this major championship to new heights.”She said the prize money would increase 60% to $5 million, with $750,000 to the winner. One of the key pieces of the puzzle is where the Chevron Championship will be played. “But I also trust that Chevron will be a tremendous partner for the LPGA Tour and has a good plan for the future of this major championship.
wftv.comLee wins her 1st major after beating Lee6 in playoff
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — (AP) — Australian golfer Minjee Lee won a sudden death playoff against overnight leader Jeongeun Lee6 to clinch the Evian Championship on Sunday for her first major title. “It’s really great to win a major, it’s really amazing,” said Lee, whose younger brother Min Woo Lee has two wins on the men’s European Tour. Lee went for a 5-iron on her second shot, but her caddie advised her to switch to a 6-iron and was proved right. That increased the pressure on Lee6, whose tense second shot flew into the water. Her head dropped as she knew her chances of a second major had just gone.
wftv.comWhoa, Nelly! Korda makes it 2 straight wins for her family
Nelly Korda followed in big sister's footsteps with a three-shot victory that looked easier than it felt. “Yeah, Jess' win, I was like, ‘OK, I got to get one now,’" Korda said. But it's nice to get back-to-back Korda wins now.”More than just matching her sister, Korda won for the first time on American soil. Sorenstam finished 29 shots behind Korda, who won by three over Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko. Korda made sure of that with a steady diet of pars and picking up enough birdies when she needed them.
Nelly Korda leads LPGA as Sorenstam falls to bottom of pack
Sorenstam, playing for the first time in more than 12 years after retiring, had no expectations and no excuses. That put her in last place by four shots, 22 shots behind Korda. “Any time you can get ahead of the pack going into Sunday is a positive,” Korda said. Not going to lie, coming down the stretch, those putts were a little shaky.”But she made them, and she's in great position going for her first LPGA Tour victory. “Normally, I hit the ball straight, and today was everything but straight,” Sorenstam said.
Back after 12 years, Sorenstam gets 2 more days on LPGA Tour
Annika Sorenstam chips a shot to the ninth green during the first round of the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam went more than 12 years without playing on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam, making a one-time appearance because the LPGA Tour is at her home course, finally got some putts to drop and ran off three birdies on her second nine. She wanted a little competition as she contemplates playing he U.S. Senior Women's Open this summer, and she said she wouldn't have played an LPGA tour event if it wasn't on her home course. But for someone out of competition for nearly as long as her career on the LPGA Tour, she still has ample game. 1 in the world who won her first LPGA Tour event at 15.
Sorenstam returns with a lot more stress and fewer birdies
Annika Sorenstam chips a shot to the ninth green during the first round of the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam doesn't remember golf being this difficult. With one birdie and one bad hole, Sorenstam had a 3-over 75 in the LPGA Gainbridge on her home course at Lake Nona. Sorenstam was 10 shots behind another Lake Nona member, Lydia Ko, who opened with a 7-under 65 for a two-shot lead. But then, this week isn't about Sorenstam adding to her 72 career victories or even starting a comeback at age 50. After a penalty drop, she hit it back toward the fairway to about 70 yards, hit an ordinary wedge and three-putted from about 18 feet for a triple bogey.
Shibuno passes big test and hangs on to lead in Women's Open
Hinako Shibuno, of Japan, fist bumbs fellow players after her round of golf during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)HOUSTON – Hinako Shibuno passed a big test Saturday in a classic U.S. Women's Open that put a premium on par, keeping the lead with a 3-over 74 going into a final round at Champions Golf Club that figures to be the toughest of all. Shibuno was at 4-under 209 as she bids to become only the third player to make majors their first two LPGA Tour titles. The others were In Gee Chun (2015 U.S. Women's Open and 2016 Evian Championship and Se Ri Pak, who won the LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open in 1998. Shibuno won the Women's British Open last year at Woburn, and declined to take up LPGA membership because she didn't think she was ready.
Lincicome, Tan share Women’s PGA lead at windy Aronimink
Lincicome and Kelly Tan each shot 3-under 67 on Thursday in windy conditions at challenging Aronimink to share the lead in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Lincicome was sensational after missing the cut by one shot this past weekend at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Lincicome, a two-time winner of the major ANA Inspiration eight LPGA Tour victories, played bogey-free to stay even with Tan and keep her first Women’s PGA title in sight. Tan’s previous best finish in a major came in 2016 when she tied for 30th at the Women’s PGA. The 2009 champion, Nordqvist is one of eight Women’s PGA Championship winners in the field that also includes all 11 winners this year on the LPGA tour.
Kang survives wild back nine to share lead at Inverness
CORRECTS SPELLING OF FIRST NAME TO DANIELLE, N0T DANNIELLE - Danielle Kang watches her drive on the tenth hole during the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)