After successful Olympic gold, Gao Lixia stated she wished to win another main in her illustrious profession and completed that purpose the primary time she requested for a “Cinderella” summer time.
Following a silver medal on the 2016 Rio Olympics, a bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics and a two-stroke victory in Paris, Gojong turned the primary golfer in historical past to win all three Olympic golf medals, a victory that additionally gave her Eligible to change into the newest golfer to be inducted into the LPGA Corridor of Fame.
The New Zealander sounded a warning about her disappointing AIG Ladies’s Open report on the following week’s ISPS Handa Ladies’s Scottish Open, solely to tear up the historical past books and finish the 12 months on the ultimate girls’s main of the 12 months. Her eight-year anticipate an elusive third Grand Slam title.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra handy video participant
Lilia Vu misses a putt to pressure a playoff with Ko because the New Zealander seals victory at AIG Ladies’s Open
Gao overturned a three-shot deficit on the ultimate day to say a two-shot victory at St Andrews and sparked emotional celebrations for her and her husband, with the victory at Golf House marking the primary of her {golfing} profession. A beautiful finish to essentially the most magical month.
“The previous few weeks have been loopy,” Gao stated after the win on the Previous Course. “One thing occurred that was too good to be true and I truthfully did not assume it might get any higher.
“Clearly, coming to the Previous Course at St. Andrews, it turns into much more particular. I simply realized what a historic and particular place this golf course is and it is truthfully such a fairy story. I used to be on cloud 9, actually. of.
In 2015, on the age of 18, Ko gained the Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship a 12 months later, changing into the youngest golfer to win two girls’s main championships, though it was not till she defeated Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Jiyai Shin prevail in Scotland.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra handy video participant
Highlights from Nelly Korda’s ultimate spherical at St Andrews as she squandered lead in ultimate holes to overlook Ko
“From 2015, 2016 to 2024, I skilled plenty of ups and downs,” Ko added. “There’s rather a lot occurring. When issues are going nicely, it is onerous to consider whenever you’re not enjoying nicely as a result of all you are actually doing is having fun with the second.
“However, when issues do not go your means, you are feeling such as you’ll by no means get out of that lull. I have been in each positions. We’re all making an attempt to succeed in the highest in 5 majors, but it surely’s onerous Seize that second; how do you seize that second?
Gao kicked off her renaissance 12 months with a victory within the season-opening Hilton Grand Holidays Championship, certainly one of three top-four finishes in her first 4 begins, though earlier than her win at St. Andrews, she Not performing nicely within the 2024 majors.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra handy video participant
Ko shot a 3-under 69 on the ultimate day at St. Andrews for her third main title
“The previous couple of weeks have been essentially the most Cinderella story I’ve ever skilled,” Coe defined. “I’ve the bottom confidence on this certainly one of all of the majors as a result of I’ve the least expertise on the hyperlinks and the outcomes weren’t nice. I simply can’t consider it.”
Is it too early for Ke to retire?
Gao, who faces the potential for retiring on the finish of the season following her Olympic victory, has beforehand spoken about her future, sky sports activities golf The crew provided totally different concepts on what she may wish to do subsequent.
“She’s at all times stated she wished to retire earlier than she was 30 and did not wish to play golf endlessly,” Alison Whitaker informed the outlet sky sports activities golf podcast. “She has been within the highlight longer than almost 90% of the individuals within the subject.
“I believe she modified the sport and informed us what to anticipate from the subsequent era, actually over the previous few many years. To win as an newbie on the LPGA Tour is unbelievable, and what she added is equally unbelievable. unbelievable.
“It may be a fairytale profession. If you consider the tales, she’s had every thing you may think about. She’s had wins in a row, she’s gained three majors, she’s had droughts, highs and lows. – That is nearly a collection of six novels.
Ko has returned to the highest three within the Rolex Ladies’s World Golf Rating and is third within the LPGA Tour’s CME Globe standings, prompting four-time main champion Dame Laura Davies to query why she is now stage to finish his profession.
“In skilled sports activities, successful is every thing,” Davis stated. sky sports activities After Ko gained. “If she loses her enthusiasm over the subsequent few years, then issues will not be as fascinating and she or he may make that call, however for the time being it’s important to really feel there are extra titles on the market.
“Why do not you wish to maintain enjoying? She’s been enjoying rather well the final three weeks. There isn’t any doubt she desires to win extra. She’s enjoying nice and there are 5 majors subsequent 12 months, and I”d if retirement got here sooner than Late, we can be stunned.
Every week after Lexi Thompson might play at St Andrews for the final time, Catriona Matthew performs her ultimate AIG Ladies’s Open, and former Grand Slam champion IK Kim pronounces her retirement, Ko’s future within the sport – so long as she desires it – stays brilliant.
Watch reside protection of this season’s LPGA Tour and Girls European Tour occasions on Sky Sports activities. Stream the LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and more with NOW.
