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HSBC Women’s World Championship: Lydia Ko wins in Singapore, eyes ‘even better’ year

New Zealander follows her memorable 2024 by lifting title at Sentosa Golf Club, with Jeeno Thitikul and Ayaka Furue in tie for second

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Lydia Ko with the trophy after winning the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. Photo: AFP

By her own admission, Lydia Ko typically has not played well at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in the past – but she changed that in emphatic fashion on Sunday and erased any doubts she had about what the year may hold.

A three-under-par 69 at Sentosa Golf Club took Ko to 13 under for the tournament, four shots better than her nearest challengers Jeeno Thitikul and Ayaka Furue, in what was a largely untroubled final round.

The 27-year-old has not always enjoyed her time in Singapore, with a tie for 34th last year more representative of past performances than the second place she managed in 2015.

But the New Zealander had something of a banner year in 2024, winning Olympic gold, the Women’s Open and becoming the youngest player to qualify for the LPGA Tour’s Hall of Fame.

Lydia Ko is showered with champagne after clinching victory at Sentosa Golf Club. Photo: AFP
Lydia Ko is showered with champagne after clinching victory at Sentosa Golf Club. Photo: AFP

There was some uncertainty as to whether she could back that up, not that Ko was necessarily concerned with what lay ahead. The result: a 23rd LPGA Tour title.

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