[PHOTO: Getty Images]
It wasn’t a great week for Australians on golf’s major tours but that didn’t stop Down Under fans being glued to the couch watching New Zealand’s Lydia Ko attempting to guarantee LPGA Hall of Fame status at a tournament in Bradenton, Florida.
While no Australian finished in the top 15 across the PGA, DP World and LPGA tours, Ko became must-watch television Monday morning, AEDT.
Having won her 20th LPGA Tour title last week, securing 26 points of the 27 required to gain entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame, the 26-year-old had a chance at the Drive On Championship at Bradenton Country Club. Ko began the final day four shots back of leader Nelly Korda, but with Korda playing her first 16 holes in five over, Ko pounced into a share of the lead before hitting a majestic 3-hybrid from 218 yards at the par-5 17th that settled to within inches for a tap-in eagle.
Ko posted the clubhouse lead at 11-under par but moments later Korda matched that eagle and then hit her approach on the 18th in regulation to two inches to force a playoff. On the second extra trip down No.18 in the playoff, Korda made par while Ko shockingly three-putted from about 35 feet, leaving her first putt eight feet short.
“To be honest, obviously I three-putted the second playoff hole, but other than that I don’t feel like I lost the tournament,” Ko said. “You know, I made a great eagle on 17, great par on 18, and then Nelly just went eagle as well and then birdied the last. So, it’s kind of like what can you do? We played our hearts out until the very end and we put ourself into the playoff. You know, I tried my best out there.”
Robyn Choi, who graduated from LPGA Tour qualifying school only a month ago, finished as the top Australian tied for 16th.
On the DP World Tour, no Australian sniffed the top 40 with Perth’s Jason Scrivener the top of his countrymen in a tie for 47th at the Ras al Khaimah Championship. Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen cruised to his eighth DP World Tour victory with a six-shot win over Rasmus Hojgaard.
Perhaps most disappointing was the Australian contingent at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at San Diego’s famed Torrey Pines. The event this year began on Wednesday and finished on Saturday (Sunday, AEDT) to conclude before two NFL championship games on Sunday. At a course that counts Australian Marc Leishman (2020) and Jason Day (2015, 2018) as past champions, no Australian managed to finish in the top 30 in this edition at Torrey Pines.
Veteran Aaron Baddeley was the best at tied 37th, at four-under, while Min Woo Lee was tied 43rd at three-under. Former world No.1 Day, seeking a third victory at Torrey Pines, missed the cut, as did Sydney native Harrison Endycott. Kiwi Ryan Fox also missed the weekend. Frenchman Matthieu Pavon became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour, birdieing the last to finish at 13-under, one shot ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard.
Footage later emerged on social media of Pavon appearing to step awkwardly in thick rough before his third shot into the par-5 18th, which spun backwards and set up his winning birdie.
