Jin Young Ko wins second major of the year at Evian Championship

Published: 29 July 2019 Last updated: 29 July 2019

Jin Young Ko relcaimed her World No.1 spot after winning her second major title of the year at the Evian Championship

Ko took advantage of late mistakes from leader Hyo Joo Kim on Sunday as she fired a final-round 67 in wet conditions to win by two-shots at 15-under-par.

“I had really great week,” said Ko. “I played really – not perfect, but a little bit – yeah, little perfect. So I was happy.

“And then I tried about patient on the course. Weather was bad, raining, and then sometimes thunder, so I thought — but I thought, This is same condition as other players, so I will try make a birdie.”

And it turns out an early visit from Lorena Ochoa inspired Ko’s final round.

“I met Lorena Ochoa this morning,” said Ko. “My caddie work for before Lorena, so I really great meet to Lorena this morning. I was really happy. She said, Try many birdies. So, Okay, I will try. Then I was happy and then I’m falling in love to Lorena.”

Ko started the day four shots behind Kim but quickly moved to within one after the leader dropped a shot on the third and Ko rolled in back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth holes.

Kim pulled ahead once more just a hole later, and despite another birdie from Ko at the 10th, Kim regained that two-stroke lead with her own gain on 11, and both players dropped shots at the next to keep the gap at two.

But where Ko recovered, Kim struggled. A birdie at the 13th moved Ko a shot closer once more, and an untimely triple bogey for Kim on the 14th saw a three-shot swing in favour of Ko – giving her a two-shot lead with just four to play.

Ko added a 20-footer for birdie at the 17th to retain a two-shot lead over clubhouse leaders Jennifer Kupcho and Shanshan Feng, and a final-hole birdie from early leader Kim wasn’t enough to undo the damage of the 14th hole, leaving her tied for second at -13.

Now it’s onto the AIG Women’s British Open where Ko has a chance to do something last done by Inbee Park in 2013 – win three majors in a season.

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