New Zealand’s Lydia Ko shot a final day 65 to romp to a five-shot victory at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International held at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
The former world no.1 picked-up where she left off a day earlier, birdieing the first as her week’s assault on Royal Greens Golf & Country Club resumed – one that had put her into a commanding four-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s closing round.
Not one to let up, Ko went out in 31 with two further birdies at 5 and 7, followed by a stunning eagle at the ninth, to pull further clear of the chasing pack. Birdies at 10 and 13 gave her a huge cushion and she was able to play the last five holes in level par to take her total for the week to 23 under par, five shots clear of second-placed Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand.
“When I was out there I was just trying to play the best golf I can,” said Ko, whose win was her second this season, following a four-year drought. “I knew a lot of the top names were playing well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I just tried to have my share of them, have fun out there and enjoy the experience at Royal Greens.”
She added: “It helps going into the final round and you have a four-shot cushion, as we could possibly shoot the same score but I still have those shots from the last three days. I birdied the first hole then holed two really good putts for par on two and three and I think that kind of set my momentum and I just tried to not look back and keep going forward. I’m delighted to have won.”
With its debut hosting last year, the Aramco Saudi Ladies International became the first ever international women’s sports event to be held in Saudi Arabia, and be broadcast on national television – at a time when the Kingdom had fewer than 20 female golfers.
Ko hoped this week’s event will further draw more Saudi women to the game. She added: “Hopefully, with the tournament being on here for the last couple of years, more and more women have the courage to take up golf and want to, in the future, come and play this event. It was really cool meeting a few of the Ladies First Club members over these past few days and to them, I’d just say keep working hard and show the power of women.”
The Ladies European Tour action continues in Saudi Arabia later this week with the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, the last of four new $1m team tournaments added to the Tour this season and taking place at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from November 10-12.