Lydia Ko’s Triumph in Women’s Open Caps off ‘Cinderella-Like’ Year After Winning Olympic Gold

Lydia Ko achieved what she described as a “Cinderella-like story” by capturing the Women’s Open at St. Andrews on Sunday, following her recent Olympic gold medal win in Paris. The 27-year-old New Zealander shot a three-under 69 in her final round, including a birdie on the last hole, to finish at seven-under par for the tournament.

This victory marked her third major title and earned her $1.425 million in prize money. Ko’s performance placed her two shots ahead of a group tied for second, which included world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Yin Ruoning, defending champion Lilia Vu, and Shin Ji-yai.

In her trophy presentation, Ko expressed how surreal her achievements felt, reflecting on how winning the gold medal in Paris seemed almost unbelievable. She admitted that her lack of experience on links courses led to doubts about her chances in the Open. Despite this, she found herself holding the trophy, which she described as incredible.

Starting the final round three shots behind Shin, who led after 54 holes, Ko made her move with a birdie on the fourth hole. Although Korda briefly took the lead with a series of birdies, a double-bogey on the 15th hole allowed Ko and Shin to catch up. Vu’s birdie at the 14th hole created a four-way tie at the top with four holes remaining.

Ko finished first among the leaders, setting a clubhouse target of seven-under. As her competitors faltered—Korda and Shin bogeyed the 17th, and Vu missed a playoff opportunity with a three-putt—Ko secured the win.

Reflecting on her journey, Ko spoke about her ups and downs from 2015 to 2024, acknowledging the challenges she faced. She contrasted the ease of celebrating success with the difficulty of enduring low points. Proud of her achievements and personal milestones, she shared that her husband’s question about preferring their dog over another major win highlighted her satisfaction in achieving both personal and professional goals.