Lydia Ko (26), a Korean-born New Zealander, originally said, “My short game near the green and putting on the green were unmatched
Lydia Ko (26), a Korean-born New Zealander, originally said, “My short game near the green and putting on the green were unmatched. It was consistent when it was going well and when it was not. However, his grades showed a difference between the sky and the ground at some point. The year 2022 and 2023 were the most polarizing. Lydia Ko in 2022, who shot a resurgent shot, was selected as the player of the year, ranking first in the prize money ranking and first in average at-bats. However, Lydia Ko in 2023 experienced the worst slump, staying in the 90th place in the prize money ranking without winning the title.
The mystery was that the tee shot was the worst in both years. In 2022, it ranked 90th in drive distance (255.34 yards) and 140th in drive accuracy (66.44%), and there was no significant difference in 2023 with 114th in drive distance (251.71 yards) and 156th in drive accuracy (62.61%). However, despite her worst tee shot, Ko averaged 4.50 birdies per round in 2022. It was the 1st place in Buddy’s probability. However, in 2023, the probability of birdie per round dropped sharply to 3.65.
The biggest difference between the two years was the green adequacy ratio. The green percentage (72.88%), which was good at 26th place in 2022, collapsed to 111th place (65.57%) last year. He defended his bad tee shot in 2022 with a good iron shot, but last year, he didn’t do well. Lydia Ko, who experienced the “worst year” from the “best year,” has returned to her full transformation in the opening match of the U.S. LPGA Tour in 2024.
He is looking at his 20th career victory as he took the lead by two strokes in the third round of the Hilton Grand Bercades Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72) in Orlando, Florida on the 21st (Korea time). Ko, who had four birdies and shot a 4-under 68 without a bogey on the day, recorded a total of 12-under 204 in the third round, beating Alex Pano of the U.S. by two strokes. Ko has not been able to add a multiplier since she won her 19th career CME Group Tour Championship in November 2022.
There is a distinctly different category of Lydia Ko’s shot statistics in this tournament from the past two years. It’s the accuracy of the tee shot. He made 32 of 42 par-4 and par-5 holes in the third round. The probability is 76.19%. It is markedly different from 66.44% in 2022 and 62.61% in 2023. The drive distance is 250 yards on average in three rounds, which is not much different. As the tee shot was accurate, the green adequacy ratio increased beyond recognition. He created a birdie opportunity in 44 out of 54 holes, showing 81.48% of the time.
Since the end of last year, he has been coached by professional Lee Si-woo, who is also well known as swing coaches for Ko Jin-young and Kim Joo-hyung, if it’s a big change for him. No golfer would have had as many ups and downs as Lydia Ko. It returned to No. 1 in the world ranking after five years and five months in 2022, the longest ever in the world ranking that began in 2006. It is unimaginable for Lydia Ko, a hard-working golfer, to be able to elevate the world ranking, which once fell to 55th, to first place.
Currently, Ko has come down to 12th place in the world. However, Lydia Ko’s upward trend has started again, taking the opportunity to rebound. Yang Hee-young and Yoo Hae-ran tied for 20th with a total of 2-under 214, while Jeon In-ji tied for 32nd with a 5-over par 221. Reporter Oh Tae-sik (ots@mk.co.kr )
