Lydia Ko in tears after claiming Olympic gold on dramatic final day
New Zealand's Lydia Ko overcame a late stumble at Le Golf National to claim the gold medal in the Women's Olympic golf competition.
Lydia Ko | -10 |
Esther Henseleit | -8 |
Xiyu Lin | -7 |
Amy Yang | -6 |
Bianca Pagdanganan | -6 |
Miyu Yamashita | -6 |
Hannah Green | -6 |
Rose Zhang | -5 |
Wei Ling Hsu | -5 |
Maja Stark | -4 |
New Zealand's Lydia Ko overcame a late double bogey to secure the gold medal at the women's Olympic golf competition in Paris.
Ko created a comfortable five-shot lead on Saturday by making birdies at 3, 7 and 9 as Switzerland's Morgane Metraux got off to a horrific start.
Metraux began the final round tied on 9-under with Ko but blew up in spectacular fashion by playing her first five holes in 5-over.
Ko looked as though she had easily secured the gold until a double-bogey at the par-4 13th caught the attention of the chasers.
But Ko played the remaining five holes in composed fashion to claim the title and New Zealand's eighth gold medal of the Games.
Ko, 27, has won 20 times on the LPGA Tour and two majors championships.
Her victory means that she has secured her spot in the LPGA Tour's Hall of Fame.
Ko won the silver medal in Rio 2016 and the bronze medal in Tokyo.
She was reduced to tears after she tucked away a closing birdie on the 72nd hole to finish on 10-under at Le Golf National.
"I had the most unbelievable experience in my three times playing the Olympics," Ko told reporters.
"I kept telling myself, 'I'm so proud of myself'. I don't ever really say that.
"I feel like that's a weird thing to tell yourself, but I kept saying I'm proud of myself no matter what happens.
"To be holding gold right now, it's crazy. I can't believe it."
Elsewhere, Nelly Korda began the day with hopes of taking home a medal.
The American world number one turned in 1-under, but played the back nine in 4-over par to finish in a tie for 22nd.
Her teammate, Rose Zhang, was playing alongside Ko in the final group.
Bogeys at 4 and 5 before a triple-bogey at the 9th ended Zhang's chances.
Germany's Esther Henseleit carded a final round of 66 to grab the silver medal and China's Xiyu Lin took bronze.
Team GB were represented by Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.
Hull carded a disastrous opening round of 81 and later claimed a fall getting out of the shower was partly to blame for her poor start.
She fought back with rounds of 71, 69 and 68 to finish in a tie for 22nd.
Hall finished on 5-over.
