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NAPLES, Fla. – With associate Jason Day within the bunker, Lydia Ko stepped up with a 3-wood into the wind from 203 yards and struck the shot of the day on the par-5 seventeenth, basically locking up the victory on the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational.
“That’s so good,” marveled Day because the ball tracked by way of the air.
The 2 former No. 1s joined forces to prime the mixed-team discipline, incomes $1 million, or $500,000 every. The ultimate spherical featured a brand new modified four-ball format wherein each gamers teed off from their respective tees after which switched for the second shot, taking part in that ball for the rest of the outlet.
Ko and Day got here into the penultimate gap at Tiburon Golf Membership knotted with Canadians Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners – taking part in two teams forward – at 25 beneath. Whereas Ko didn’t handle to transform the eagle putt, the closing birdie put them one shot forward going into the final. They parred the 18th to complete with a 6-under 66 and win by one with a 26-under 190 complete.
“I don’t assume I’ve seen so many feminine junior golfers out at an occasion,” stated Day, “particularly a PGA Tour occasion, as I did see them this week.
“That is one thing that I feel we have now to maintain striving in direction of.”
“That’s so good”
Could not agree extra, @JDayGolf 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6UQgqSZwB0
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 10, 2023
The victory at Tiburon was a particular type of vindication for Ko, who didn’t qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in 2023 after profitable the occasion the 12 months prior.
“As quickly because it got here off the membership face, I used to be like, I feel it’s good, please be good, and it was heading proper in direction of the pin,” stated Ko. “I don’t assume I might have hit that shot 100 occasions and it will prove higher.”
A self-described introvert, Ko admitted to being significantly nervous coming into this week having by no means met Day, who’s 10 years older. Day stated they’ll now go away Naples lifelong associates.
Main champion Karen Stupples, who follows the LPGA all season working for Golf Channel/NBC, commented after Saturday’s spherical of 6-under 66 in alternate shot that Ko’s sport regarded pretty much as good as she’d seen all of it 12 months.
Ko spent a while with Jin Younger Ko’s teacher Siwoo Lee at a pair factors this season and once more, as Golf Channel analyst Morgan Pressel reported, final week at Lake Nona. Pressel stated that Ko’s swing regarded much less manufactured at Tiburon and that she gave the impression to be pondering much less mechanics.
Ko famous that she’d gained her first occasion of the season on the Women European Tour in Saudi Arabia and the ultimate one right here at Tiburon. She’d like to chop out all the things in between.
“I’m simply making an attempt to maintain it actually easy,” stated Ko, “and the much less manipulation I can do, the higher, and I feel I’ve a greater understanding of my swing and my tendencies.”
At No. 19 on the earth, Day was the highest-ranked PGA Tour participant within the discipline at Tiburon whereas Ko ranked eleventh. Ko has 19 LPGA titles, together with two majors, whereas Day owns 13 PGA Tour victories, together with one main.
Day known as it a largely stress-free victory, noting that he had full confidence that Ko would step up ultimately. The Kiwi delivered.
“She really has a really robust champion mentality,” stated Day. “If you’re on the market speaking to her, and also you’re sitting there and also you’re pondering, oh, you bought a nasty bounce or this and that, it’s by no means like, you’re proper, I obtained a nasty bounce or it went up towards the lip … she’s at all times wanting ahead.”
Earlier this season, Day broke a five-year victory drought on the AT&T Byron Nelson after which later welcomed his fifth baby with spouse Ellie. With the entire brood readily available in Naples, Day joked that he and Tony Finau have been combating for strokes gained youngsters on the PGA Tour.
“If you win, and also you’ll expertise this in the future when you’ve gotten kids your self and also you’re nonetheless taking part in,” Day stated, turning towards Ko, “there’s nothing fairly like having kids run as much as you after you win a match simply due to all of the feelings begin to come out simply because you may see how a lot your kids love you and need to be there for you.
“Each time I get to expertise that, it fills me. I’m simply very grateful for that.”
Newlywed Ko, who has lengthy stated she’d be retired by 30, smiled and instructed Day that perhaps she’d sometime get that have at a membership championship.
Henderson and Conners, boosted by a pair of eagles, completed with a 9-under 63 on Sunday. A stalled-out end of three pars to shut the spherical – together with the par-5 seventeenth – stored the pair out of the winner’s circle.
“I used to be in a position to play with plenty of freedom realizing I had Brooke to again me up,” stated Conners, who holed out for eagle on the par-4 ninth. “Yeah, it was a lot enjoyable. Simply so impressed along with her sport.”
Madelene Sagstrom and Ludvig Aberg put collectively the spherical of the day on Sunday – a 12-under 60 – to vault up the board into solo third at 24 beneath. The Swedish pair have the identical swing coach, and Sagstrom’s fiance is on Aberg’s bag.
The acquainted duo spiced issues up much more contained in the ropes with some facet bets. Sagstrom stated she ended the spherical down $20.
“Personally, I’ve struggled just a little bit with foursomes,” stated Sagstrom, “each in Solheim Cups and normally. I feel it’s type of arduous if you actually don’t need to screw up another person. “I felt snug at the moment.”
Sagstrom echoed the ideas of many this week when she that stated outside-the-box occasions are what’s wanted to develop the sport.
“Lexi did get a much bigger cheer than Rickie did on the tee field yesterday, and I take delight in that,” stated Sagstrom. “It’s simply been an amazing week to point out off our video games – even in contrast to one another.”
World No. 1 Lilia Vu had her visor signed by associate Joel Dahmen and his caddie after their closing 63. The camaraderie shone by way of for a lot of groups who met in particular person for the primary time in Naples.
“Our staff’s going to have extra enjoyable than everybody else,” Dahmen promised at the beginning of the week, “that’s the No. 1 factor.”
They’re already speaking about subsequent 12 months.
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