Ko’s putter cold in Canada

Lydia Ko’s putting woes continued as she finished seventh at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Calgary.

New Zealand’s world No 1 recorded a final round three-under 69 yesterday to finish the tournament at 13-under, 10 shots off the pace of Thailand’s runaway leader Ariya Jutanugarn.

Jutanugarn claimed her fifth title of the year, producing a controlled final round of 66 to win by four shots from Korea’s Sei Young Kim.

Ko’s hopes of mounting a challenge and getting her fourth title at this event looked promising as she slotted three birdies during an encouraging front nine to get within four shots of Jutanugarn.

But she had a disaster on the par five 12th hole where her aggressive second shot got caught in deep rough.

Unable to get enough spin, her third shot flew through to the second cut of rough on the other side of the green and she took three to get down from there.

Ko’s putter was as cold as the chilly air hanging over the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club as her round progressed. She just couldn’t get anything to drop again until a birdie at the 18th.

Ko’s wedges into the greens lacked their usual accuracy too.

Her driving off the tee was solid, hitting 12 of 14 fairways. But she made just 12 greens in regulation, negating her chances of applying real pressure to Jutanugarn.

‘‘I think I was a little far away going into today,’’ Ko said of trying to rein in Jutanugarn.

‘‘But no, it’s been a great week. I played solid all week, and there’s a lot of positives to take from this week. I’m happy with it, and especially when I’m defending and I’m still able to have a top-10 finish. I think it was a great week, and I really appreciate all the support from the crowds here.’’

Ko, coming off her silver medal performance at the Rio Olympics, remains in charge world No 1 ranking and of the Race to the CME Globe but Jutanugarn is closing in.

The Thai star is the form player and her turnaround this year is remarkable after missing 10 cuts in 2015. She has won the last two LPGA events and has now past Ko (four) for wins this season.

Ko has the defence of her breakthrough major title at the Evian Championship in France looming on September 15.