Ko’s greatest shot ‘a stuff of legend’

In a top-level golf career spanning six years and more than 30,000 shots, Lydia Ko came as close to perfection as she ever has at the 18th hole at the Lake Merced Golf Club yesterday.

The 21-year-old rated her second shot at the par-five, which set up a LPGA Mediheal Championship-winning eagle, as her best ever in a clutch situation.

The odds of getting the shot from 214 metres away close to the pine looked slim, especially given it came with the pressure of a playoff after she was tied with Minjee Lee at 12-under at the end of 72 holes.

An overhanging tree stood in the way, so Ko needed to ensure she got enough height on her shot to clear that, while also ensuring she had the distance to get her ball close to the hole.

She cleared the tree easily. Her ball bounced 10 yards short of the green, kicked straight on and looked as though it was heading for the hole for what would have been a remarkable albatross (two on a par-five). It slid just to the right of the hole in the end, settling within three feet of the pin to set up a relatively simple eagle putt, which she nailed.

When she realised just where the shot had ended up, she gave a small first pump, before turning with a smile to her caddie, Johnny Scott, and shaking her head in disbelief. The CBS Sports commentator described the shot as ‘‘the stuff of legend’’.

Having wiped away the tears which readily flowed on the green after the win, Ko said the shot trumped what she felt was her previous best – a chip shot from the left-side rough at the same hole to help secure her first win as a professional at the 2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

‘‘I was in the rough and it was one of the first times when I imagined how the golf ball would react, landing it just short of the green, run up and me having a birdie opportunity,’’ she said of the 2014 effort.

‘‘I think that even though it’s a shorter shot, I’ve always classed that as one of the best shots I’ve ever played, but I think I was able to do the best here.

Ko did have a practice, or sorts, during regulation play just minutes before her championship-winning shot. She had an approach shot from 25 yards closer at the 18th when tied for the lead with Lee.

‘‘The first time playing I knew I didn’t need to smash my 5-wood – maybe I should have because it was short anyway,’’ she said with a laugh.

Even then, she almost chipped in to win the tournament without having to go to a playoff. That was one of a couple of stunning shots during her final round which are likely to be quickly forgotten after the drama at 18.