Newly-crowned women’s world No.1 Lydia Ko added to her already glowing CV with a stunning victory in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
The 17-year-old New Zealander, who became the youngest-ever world No.1 earlier this month, is now also the youngest player to win the Australian Open.
Ko finished on nine under par in Melbourne to claim a two-shot victory over South Korea’s Amy Yang, following a tense final round battle, which also involved a 90-minute suspension of play for lightning.
After a shaky start, which saw her bogey the first hole and three-putt the second for par, Ko’s final round came alive with an chip-in eagle at the drivable par-four fourth. She lost the lead to Yang at the eighth, but a birdie at the 10th, followed by a slip from her rival, saw Ko regain the lead and she was able to par her way home for victory.