Lydia Ko is living a wonderful life right now, and sometimes wonders if this is real. Fresh from a honeymoon, which included eight rounds and an ace of golf, the Kiwi won her first start at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.
Ko was awarded $750,000 for her efforts. This follows a record setting $2 million first place prize at last year’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Ko is in great spirits and she won’t be able to earn the coveted LPGA Hall of Fame points for her victory this week – a Ladies European Tour sanctioned event. To qualify for the LPGA Hall, she needs two more points. Majors and regular-season LPGA tournaments each count for one point.
She said, “I feel like I’ve just been very thankful.” “A lot has been happening in the past few months, especially.”
THE LYDIA KO SHOW
The world number one wins @AramcoLadiesInt for a second time #RaiseOurGame | #AramcoSaudiLadiesIntl pic.twitter.com/WfJc5Ot2LS
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf February 19, 2023
World No. World No. 1 Ko has won three of her four previous starts around the world. She took the lead from Lilia Vu, an American, on the penultimate hole. Vu and Ko were at 21 under with just a par 5, Aditi Ashok from India being in the clubhouse.
Vu’s second shot into water was taken by Vu after Ko duck-hooked her 18th-hole tee shot. She tried to reach the green in two, but Vu missed her second shot. Vu’s closing par dropped Vu to third place, but Ko was able to recover and still record a par. Ashok was left alone in second place and she took home $450,000. Ashok won the season-opening Magical Kenya Ladies Open, and she took home 45,000 euros. She joked that she didn’t have any plans for future spending sprees.
She said that she watches a lot of movies, so it was possible to try to get more streaming services, as I currently only have one. Perhaps I will get all of them. That’s it.”
The Saudis Ladies International hosted 15 of the top 30 Rolex Rankings players. The prize money, which matches the one for the men in Saudi Arabia, is now $5 million. It is the largest purse in women’s golf, other than the majors and LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship (7 million). The controversy surrounding the six LET-sponsored events in Saudi Arabia, which will total six in 2023 is due to the extensive human rights violations that Saudi Arabia has been accused, particularly towards women.
Ko is now 2-for-2 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. She previously won the event in 2021. With veteran caddie David Jones, she has won the event twice. Ko ended a three-year drought in the LPGA with Jones, who was in Hawaii, two years ago. Before they started on this season, they had three more starts together. They already have a lot of trust, Ko stated that Jones helped her to read the greens on Sunday after she had trouble with the first three holes.
Ko said, “So he’s a new face but I feel like he’s a similar person that I know we have good chemistry.” Because he played, I feel that Dave has the mindset of a professional player. He’s also very positive. He’s always thinking about the future, even when I miss a shot.
“So, I try to be more positive when playing on the golf course. He definitely helps me with this.” His playing experience and knowledge I believe helps.
Lexi Thompson began her 2023 season in Saudi Arabia by claiming a third-place share with Manon de Roey, Vu and a joint third place in Saudi Arabia. Thompson shot 63 to 66 during the weekend. She will not be playing in the next two LPGA events, which are in Thailand and Singapore.
She said, “This is definitely an excellent confidence booster to begin the season that way.” I’ll build on it. I will go home for a few more weeks and continue to practice, knowing that my work is being put to the test and playing well. There are still a few things I can improve upon and build on.
