New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has secured her third major title by winning the British Open at St Andrews, finishing two shots ahead of her closest rivals.
Ko, who started the final round tied for fourth, delivered an impressive three-under-par 69, including a crucial birdie on the 18th hole that secured her a one-shot lead.
After a tense wait for her competitors to complete their rounds, Ko emerged victorious, earning US$1.425 million (NZ$2.28 million). The victory adds to her list of remarkable achievements, including a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and qualifies her for the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Ko’s win at the British Open is particularly significant as it was the major she had the least confidence in, given her limited experience with links courses.
Despite this she outperformed strong competitors like Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Jiyai Shin, and Ruoning Yin. Korda’s chances slipped away with a bogey on the 17th hole, while Vu missed a crucial putt to force a playoff, confirming Ko’s emotional and hard-fought victory.
