Lydia Ko has been around for a while.
Former world No. The former world No.
Ko’s round was her best of the year by a mile. She had seven birdies, and only one bogey. Ko has 19 victories and 102 top-10s throughout her career, but her sole top 10 of the year was in February. In 2023, her average finish was 43rd. She has played 15 events before this week’s Pinnacle Country Club event in Rogers, Arkansas but missed four cuts. Although she made the weekend of three majors, this season has been unlike anything that Lydia-Ko ever did.
She has broken 70 in only 15 of the 52 rounds she played in 2023. This includes Friday’s round. She reached her lowest point in this year’s season a month earlier, when she shot a 10-over 82 during the third round at the CPKC Women’s Open.
She is 84th in the LPGA 2023 money list, with $209 776. She was the winner of the money title last year with $4,364,403.
This could be the spark to turn things around.
“I played solidly. I don’t believe I put myself in many situations where I needed to up and down. It was a par-3, 6, or 5, I don’t remember which, that I hit in the water. I dropped it and chipped it for par. It was a good start because I’d gone birdie bogey birdie and had I not chipped it in, I would have been at bogey. “I think that helped me get my day started. I had a number of birdie chances, particularly from 9 and on, as well as a few where the distance was just a couple feet. It’s nice to be able to make those birdies without any stress.”
Ko includes the Walmart NW Arkansas 2016 event in her list of 19 victories. She said that seven years seems like a very long time.
“I look at the photo of me in the Clubhouse and it seems like a long time ago. It was 2016, which is about seven years ago. She said, “A lot has happened since then.” It’s good to return to a place that holds many good memories. It’s like home away from home, because I’ve played with the same group of pro-am players for eight years. “Seeing them when I visit Arkansas is a real treat, even if it’s not for golf.”
Ko is one of six 65ers who are tied for first place. Christina Kim and Hannah Green are also in the group.
