Lydia Ko survives double-hit to win Kia Classic by four strokes
Not even a rare double-hit could derail world number one Lydia Ko from winning the Kia Classic by four strokes over Park In-bee in southern California on Sunday.
Ko shot 67 for a 19-under-par 269 total on the Aviara course in Carlsbad, for her 11th LPGA victory.
I knew I needed to focus until the last moment. Fortunately, I made some birdies down the stretch
The 18-year-old New Zealander seemed to be cruising when a putt from off the green at the 10th hole led to a double-hit that could have put her off her game.
As she struck the ball, it popped almost straight up and hit the shaft of her putter, near the top of the hosel, before trickling forward on to the green.
Ko took the mandatory one-stroke penalty and bogeyed the hole.
But unfazed, she made five straight pars and then after South Korean Park, who was playing a few groups ahead, pulled to within a shot with a birdie at 17, Ko concluded with three birdies in a row.
