Page 29 - Golf Champion - December 2021

Lydia Ko

Ko hit 63 straight greens in regulation to finish the week, and watch Netflix.”
with her last missed green in regulation on No. 9 in the Nasa Hataoka put up a fight on the final day to finish
first round. She recorded only one bogey over her last second at -22 after posting an 8-under 64 that included
63 holes played with 24 birdies in that stretch. Nine of nine birdies. Mina Harigae and two-time LPGA Tour
those came on Sunday, including six on her front nine, winner Celine Boutier finished in a tie for third at -18.
closing with a 30 as she made the turn. When asked about Megan Khang, along with 2021 major champions Nelly
the most important shot from the day, Ko said there were Korda and Minjee Lee, tied for fifth at -17. Korda, who
three. was among the 54-hole co-leaders with Ko, Hataoka and
“Number one is No. 3 hole, second shot with the 7-iron. Boutier, finished her season averaging 4.90 birdies-or-
And number two on No. 8, par-3. I got maybe three feet. better per round. It’s the best single-season rate for any
Yep, with a controlled 9-iron,” said Ko. “And No. 17, player with 40 or more rounds played in the last 30 LPGA
second shot with the 6-iron. I got two on so two-putt and Tour seasons.
made birdie.”
Ko’s season was one for the ages. Despite no major About the Race to the CME Globe
championship titles, Ko walks away with the largest prize The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points
in women’s golf, a scoring average of 68.774, five victories competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points
and Rolex Player of the Year. But, the 26-year-old only has in every Official LPGA Tournament to gain entry into
one thing on her mind this offseason. “I want to keep the the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. The
golf clubs at a distance and not think about golf and get a player who wins the CME Group Tour Championship will
good sleep. Just want to put potato chips in my stomach be named the “Race to the CME Globe Champion.”

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