Lydia Ko wins third major with Open triumph at wild St Andrews as Nelly Korda fades
Taking an elevated position on small structures that celebrate high achievement is starting to suit Lydia Ko.
Earlier this month the New Zealander claimed top spot on the Olympic podium in Paris and she ended Sunday stood on the Swilcan Bridge holding aloft the AIG Women’s Open trophy at the home of golf, St Andrews.
The 27-year-old’s victory, a third major championship career title and 21st on the LPGA, came after she stood firm during a final round that was, at times, played in savage conditions.
She carded a three-under-par 69 to compile a seven-under total of 281 that none of her rivals could match but those raw numbers do little justice to a wearying battle for the final women’s major championship of 2024.
It was, in fact, almost perverse that sunshine greeted Ko as she walked on to the 18th green to accept the trophy because it had rarely been witnessed throughout a week of vicious weather that matched the brutal scenes at the men’s Open in Troon last month. As a duo, the two championships could scarcely have made for a worse advertisement for the British seaside but no-one could grumble about the quality of the drama on either occasion.
