Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko rounded off a golden summer by completing her ‘Cinderella story’ with a dramatic AIG Women’s Open triumph at St Andrews.

Ko emerged from three shots back to claim glory on the Old Course, adding a first major title in over eight years to the Olympic gold medal she won in Paris earlier this month which also secured a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The 27-year-old was part of a logjam at six-under as the conclusion to a memorable Championship neared before holing a nerveless putt on the 18th for birdie which proved crucial as her rivals faded.

“It's pretty surreal,” said Ko. “Winning the gold medal in Paris a couple weeks ago, it was almost too good to be true.

“Heading into the weekend, I was in contention and saying 'how is it possible for me to win the AIG Women's Open?'

“I have had the most Cinderella-like story these past few weeks, and this is almost too good to be true.

“Of all the major championships, I think this one I had the least amount of confidence, just because I haven't had as much experience playing on links, and the results didn't follow either.

“To be holding this trophy right now, I can't believe it and obviously very special especially with my family being here this week too.”

Ko, who won the Smyth Salver at St Andrews in 2013, mastered blustery conditions throughout the week as the only player to shoot four under-par rounds.

The New Zealander made just the one error on Sunday, finding a greenside bunker on 15 which culminated in a bogey but was spotless from there to the finish.

She got up and down brilliantly on 16 to save par and navigated the fiendish 17th before an exquisite approach on 18 set up birdie from a few feet.

Ko was then spotted warming-up on the practice greens for a potential play-off, with defending Champion Lilia Vu requiring a birdie to prolong the Championship, but the American’s closing bogey ensured Ko’s victory by two shots.

“I think I just had a lot of fun and it was almost so windy that I hit some shots and all I could do was laugh, because I've never seen a ball react that way,” said Ko, who finished on seven-under-par. 

“I think all of us players knew that it was going to be tough out there. That's why it's a huge round of applause to them here, the superintendents, making the course playable, because it's so windy that it could have easily not been that case.”

No player in the history of golf can match Ko’s trophy haul, with an Olympic medal of each colour as well as Chevron and Evian Championship triumphs underlining her status as one of the modern greats.

“They're all special in their own ways,” said Ko.

“Even the silver and the bronze were some of the biggest highlights of my career. I don't know when I'm going to retire, but I said before then I would love to win another major championship, and that was the goal that I set with my coaches.

“I am a three-time major champion and it's so surreal. I'm just excited, and I'm not really sure if it has sunk in yet, but I’m very grateful.

“St Andrews is a special place, I was fortunate enough to play here as an amateur in 2013 when Stacy [Lewis] won.

“I would never imagine that 11 years later I would be in her shoes, being somebody that I really respect and really look up to, I think that makes this extra special.”