AIG Women's Open FR 2-Over Par Stumble
Lydia Ko Comes Back to Win, 1.9 Billion Won 'Jackpot'
Lilia Vu and Inrunning, Korda Also Tied for 2nd Place
Shin Ji-ae failed to collect a major championship trophy.
Shin Ji-ae is teeing off at the 3rd hole of the 4th round of the AIG Women's Open. [St Andrews (Scotland) = AP·Yonhap News]
On the 25th (local time), at the St Andrews Old Course (par 72, 6,784 yards) in St Andrews, Scotland, UK, the final major tournament of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, the AIG Women's Open (total prize money $9.5 million), concluded with Shin Ji-ae losing 2 strokes in the 4th round and settling for a tie for 2nd place (5 under par 283). She missed out on her 12th LPGA Tour victory since the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in February 2013. Shin Ji-ae achieved her first LPGA Tour win at this tournament, formerly known as the British Women's Open, in 2008, and reached her 10th win here in 2012.
Shin Ji-ae started 1 stroke behind the leader and recorded 2 birdies and 4 bogeys. She recovered a bogey at the 3rd hole with a birdie at the 7th hole (both par 4s), but made a '3-putt bogey' at the 11th hole (par 3). At the 14th hole (par 5), her second shot landed in a pot bunker, posing a crisis, but she managed to save par. However, bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes (both par 4s), described as 'stepping stone bogeys,' caused her to fall behind in the race for the title.
Lydia Ko is teeing off at the 2nd hole of the 4th round of the AIG Women's Open. [St Andrews (Scotland) = AFP·Yonhap News]
Paris Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko (New Zealand) shot 3 under par to complete a 2-stroke come-from-behind victory (7 under par 281). She was co-leader until making a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4) to claim the top spot. This marked her second win of the season and 21st career victory, including 3 majors, seven months after her win at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January. Her winner's prize was $1,425,000 (approximately 1.9 billion KRW).
World No. 2 and defending champion Lilia Vu (USA) recorded 2 birdies and 3 bogeys. She made a bogey on the 18th hole, failing to defend her title and settling for a tie for 2nd place. In Ruoning (China) added 2 under par to join the group tied for 2nd. World No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA) also failed to lower her score and finished tied for 2nd.
From Korea, rookie Lim Jin-hee finished tied for 10th place (1 under par 287). Meanwhile, Shin Ji-eun lost 4 strokes and dropped to a tie for 17th place (even par 288). Lee So-mi tied for 22nd (2 over par 290), Kim Hyo-joo tied for 29th (3 over par 291), and Yang Hee-young, Kim Se-young, and Choi Hye-jin tied for 37th (4 over par 292). 2017 champion Kim In-kyung finished 81st (11 over par 299) and announced her retirement from professional golf after the tournament.
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