Lydia Ko had one last chance to become the youngest female major champion in history, and she seized it.
On Sunday, Ko won The Evian Championship, the LPGA’s fifth major championship of the year, to become a major winner at 18 years, 4 months, 20 days. The final-round, 8-under 63 Ko shot at Evian Golf Club was good enough for a six-shot win over Lexi Thompson, who was seeking her second major title. Ko finished at 16-under 268.
Ko, who trailed 54-hole leader Mi-Hyang Lee by two shots entering the final round, went out on 3-under 32, matching her other final-round playing partner Lexi Thompson, who led by a shot heading into the back nine. Ko surged on the final nine holes, making five birdies, including a finishing birdie to lock up her maiden major title.
Thompson didn’t make another birdie after the seventh hole. A bogey at the eighth cut the lead from three to two, then Thompson made a double-bogey 5 at the par-3 14th.
Shanshan Feng finished in third at 8 under par.
With a win, Ko had a chance to retake the top spot in the Rolex Rankings, but needed Inbee Park to finish worse than 17th place. Park shot 3-under 68 in the final round to finish T-8 and secure No. 1.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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