Ko Won with a Birdie on the Second Playoff Hole

Two days after her 18th birthday, world No. 1 Lydia Ko celebrated with her seventh LPGA Tour title by closing out Morgan Pressel on the second playoff hole with a birdie at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Ko’s second win of 2015 comes at the same tournament she got her first win as an LPGA Tour member a year ago, becoming the first player since Inbee Park at the 2014 Wegman’s LPGA Championship to defend her title.

“I just tried to go with my game plan. I knew that whoever was going to win in the playoff was going to make a birdie,” Ko said. “You know, there is not that many places where you’re going to get a chance for a bogey or something. We’re both hitting the ball good, so I knew that at the end it was somebody that was going to make a good putt and come off with a birdie.”

Ko climbed into the playoff with Pressel with an equally clutch birdie at the 18th to get to eight-under-par for the tournament. Pressel, a group behind Ko, made costly bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 to allow Ko to climb back into it and wasn’t able to capitalize at the 18th with the door cracked, missing a 15 foot birdie at the last that would have ended it after 72 holes while Ko waited on the practice putting green. Back down the fairway they went and the championship again appeared to be Pressel’s for the taking when Ko left her birdie try short, and Pressel had a 10 footer for the win. It narrowly missed high on the right edge of the cup, opening the door for Ko after they both tapped in for pars.

“I don’t know if any one has more pressure,” Pressel said. “They were all chances to win the tournament; certainly the first two. I don’t know. I just tried to put good strokes on it. First one I was disappointed to leave short. You don’t want to leave a chance to win the tournament short. The second putt I really thought that I hit a good putt, and then it was a complete misread on the third one, so...”

On the second playoff hole, Ko hit first and plopped it six feet short right of the hole. It took her two holes longer and one more birdie on the 18th than a year ago, but Ko again was able to close the books on this championship with a birdie at the last.

“Here last year I knew I needed to make that putt because I knew Stacy [Lewis] would make it,” Ko said. “Like even this year I missed my birdie on 17. I said, If I want to put some pressure, I need to make a birdie or better on 18. Ended up being good for that. But, yeah, this tournament always makes my heart clench. You know, I got so nervous. It’s a good thing that they’re going in the hole, yeah.”

Five of Ko’s seven LPGA Tour victories have now come when she’s trailed entering the final round and she is now 2-0 in playoffs after winning a three-way, four-hole playoff at the CME Group Tour Championship a year ago.

As for the nerves that Ko promises are there but never seems to show, well, you’ll just have to believe her.

“Why wouldn’t you? I’m an 18 year old and I’m very nice,” Ko joked when asked. “No, yeah, I do get nervous. You have to take my word on that. My 17th hole shot at Ocala definitely proves it, doesn’t it? That was a pretty bad shot. Yeah, you know, I think everybody has nerves. Some people show it; some people don’t. But to me, even just playing a round of golf with club members gets me nervous. I know I’ve got the nerves. If some people think I don’t look like I am nervous, then it’s a good thing.”

Lydia Ko wins Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC

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