Olympic champion Lydia Ko wins Singapore LPGA
SINGAPORE (AP) — Lydia Ko finally conquered the LPGA's HSBC Women's World Championship, clinching her first title at her 11th attempt with a dominant four-stroke win over Ayaka Furue and Jeeno Thitikul in Sunday's final round.
The 2024 Olympic gold medalist and Women's British Open champion overcame a middling start before finding her rhythm with a birdie on the par-5 sixth.
Ko added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8, seizing control of the leaderboard from then on.
Despite dropping two bogeys after the turn, the world No. 3 closed with a solid 69, sealing a 13-under-par 275 total at Sentosa Golf Club.
'I dreamt last night that I won but then I woke up, and I was like, dang, it's not real yet,' said Ko, who secured her 23rd LPGA title and her first victory since the Kroger Queen City Championship last September. 'But I just wanted to focus on my game.'
'I started off really steady, and you know, didn't really put myself in trouble that much. I think that was going to be the key for today.'
Ko's previous best finish here was a lone second place in 2015.
'It's exciting to finally add Asia's major to my major collection,' the New Zealander said.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul fought hard to chase Ko down, but her charge fell just short.
Jeeno fired a 70, finishing at nine under, tied for second with Japan's Ayaka Furue, who carded a closing 68. The Thai star made an early push with two birdies in the first four holes to trail Ko by a stroke at 9-under but couldn't maintain the pressure.
Charley Hull, just one shot behind Ko entering the final round, saw her title hopes fade after a frustrating 74, settling for a share of fourth at seven under alongside Im Jin Hee, who fired the day's best round of 67, and Gaby Lopez (70).
The Singapore tournament is the second of three events on the LPGA's first Asian swing of the year. The final event will be played next week at Hainan Island, China.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
30 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
South Africa wins toss and bowling first against Australia in WTC final
LONDON (AP) — South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first against defending champion Australia at Lord's in the World Test Championship final on Wednesday. Cloud cover decided the call. 'Massive (occasion),' South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said. 'You can hear the South African accents as well in the stands. Should be a spectacle.' Unlike South Africa, Australia didn't have a warmup game, but captain Pat Cummins said they were ready. 'Preparation has been unreal. All the guys in the team are ready to go,' Cummins said. 'We have had about 10 days of preparation. I don't think there's any extra pressure. We've been here before and won it. So it's just about going out and enjoying it.' The teams were named on Tuesday. Australia has gone with a new top order by pushing up Marnus Labuschagne to open in a test for the first time, and placing Cameron Green at No. 3 for his first test in 15 months. Josh Hazlewood has displaced Scott Boland in the pace attack. South Africa brought back Lungi Ngidi as the third seamer in the only change to the team from its last test in January in Cape Town, a four-day win over Pakistan. ___ Lineups: South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi. Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. ___ AP cricket:
Fox Sports
33 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
South Africa wins toss and bowling first against Australia in WTC final
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first against defending champion Australia at Lord's in the World Test Championship final on Wednesday. Cloud cover decided the call. 'Massive (occasion)," South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said. 'You can hear the South African accents as well in the stands. Should be a spectacle." Unlike South Africa, Australia didn't have a warmup game, but captain Pat Cummins said they were ready. 'Preparation has been unreal. All the guys in the team are ready to go,' Cummins said. 'We have had about 10 days of preparation. I don't think there's any extra pressure. We've been here before and won it. So it's just about going out and enjoying it.' The teams were named on Tuesday. Australia has gone with a new top order by pushing up Marnus Labuschagne to open in a test for the first time, and placing Cameron Green at No. 3 for his first test in 15 months. Josh Hazlewood has displaced Scott Boland in the pace attack. South Africa brought back Lungi Ngidi as the third seamer in the only change to the team from its last test in January in Cape Town, a four-day win over Pakistan. ___ Lineups: South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi. Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. ___ AP cricket: recommended in this topic
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tuchel runs into early problems with England as critics circle
England's Ivan Toney (14) and England's Eberechi Eze react after Senegal's Cheikh Sabaly scores their side's third goal of the game during an international friendly match against Senegal at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England's Jude Bellingham (10) reacts after Senegal's Cheikh Sabaly scores their side's third goal of the game after an international friendly match at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England manager Thomas Tuchel watches from the sideline before an international friendly match against Senegal at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England manager Thomas Tuchel watches from the sideline before an international friendly match against Senegal at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England's Ivan Toney (14) and England's Eberechi Eze react after Senegal's Cheikh Sabaly scores their side's third goal of the game during an international friendly match against Senegal at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England's Jude Bellingham (10) reacts after Senegal's Cheikh Sabaly scores their side's third goal of the game after an international friendly match at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England manager Thomas Tuchel watches from the sideline before an international friendly match against Senegal at The City Ground in Nottingham, England, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) Hired amid skepticism because of his nationality, German coach Thomas Tuchel was brought in as England manager to get the national team from soccer's birthplace 'over the line' at a World Cup for the first time since 1966. One year out from the 2026 tournament in North America and Tuchel has already run into problems — and is feeling the wrath of England's fans, too. Advertisement The 3-1 loss to Senegal at home in a friendly match on Tuesday brought a crashing end to Tuchel's honeymoon period that was already tottering after England could only eke out a feeble 1-0 win over 173rd-ranked Andorra four days earlier. Boos rang out as Tuchel and England's players left the field at the City Ground in Nottingham after losing to an African nation for the first time. Tuchel has coached some of the world's biggest clubs in Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea and was regarded, tactically, as a big step-up from predecessor Gareth Southgate. For many, Southgate lacked that magic touch to turn England into title-winners despite its deep runs at the past four major tournaments. These are early days — Tuchel only started the job in January — but England might even have regressed in its latest era under a foreign coach. Advertisement Here's a look at the teething problems being encountered in Tuchel's tenure: Tactics While Southgate no doubt generated a great culture and atmosphere in the squad off the field, he was accused of being too pragmatic and lacking flexibility in his tactics on it. Tuchel was expected to be a huge upgrade in that respect but England doesn't yet have an identity under the German. England captain Harry Kane listed the ingredients his team were missing against Senegal — and there were plenty. 'With and without the ball, we aren't quite clicking,' said Kane, who opened the scoring. "We aren't finding the right passes, the right tempo. In the one-vs.-ones, we're losing duels and that aggressive nature we've had. Advertisement 'There are some ideas that are new and we have some new players coming into the team who haven't got experience at international level. It's a mixture of things.' Tuchel only has four more camps to get his ideas across ahead of the World Cup, should England qualify of course. The team won its opening three World Cup qualifiers — against Albania, Latvia and Andorra — and tops Group K with five matches to play from September to November. Selection Some of Tuchel's early-tenure selections have raised eyebrows. He has brought former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, age 34 and most recently playing at Ajax, back into the squad because of his leadership qualities and to 'take care of all the standards in the group,' Tuchel said. But is Henderson good enough to still be in the team? Advertisement He has persisted with right back Kyle Walker, who is aged 35, seemingly passed his best and most recently sent on loan to AC Milan where he has struggled to impress. Tuchel has the likes of Reece James and new Real Madrid player Trent Alexander-Arnold as alternatives but is preferring Walker, again talking about how the veteran is 'pushing the standards' in the camp. Some of his picks at center back — newcomers Trevoh Chalobah and Dan Burn among them — have also been scrutinized. Bluntness While Southgate always shielded his players from criticism, Tuchel is more open and blunt with any negative analysis. Advertisement Indeed, after the Andorra game where England toiled, Tuchel accused his players of lacking 'the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier' and said he didn't like their attitude and body language. To many, it was fair comment but something England's players maybe hadn't been used to hearing from their coach. Will they take it the wrong way — and prefer Southgate's arm-round-the-shoulder approach? In mitigation In defense of Tuchel, England's players were coming off long club seasons and might have switched off mentally before linking up with England for the Andorra and Senegal games. Advertisement Tuchel also made 10 changes against Senegal and was clearly testing out some new players and tactical approaches. 'There is no need to panic,' he said 'We know more now. We are smarter ... I hate losses like nothing else but we don't go next week to the World Cup, we go in one year.' However, more bad results or performances in September, when England plays Andorra at home and Serbia away, and the nation's fans — and some sections of the media, no doubt — will get on Tuchel's back and likely use his passport against him. The pressure is already building. ___ AP soccer:
