Ko ends two years without a victory

Lydia Ko clinched her first win in nearly two years after a rollercoaster final round at the LPGA Mediheal Championship. The 21-year-old New Zealander needed a play-off against Australia’s Minjee Lee to take the win, after both finished tied for first place on 12-under par after 72 holes.

Defeating her rival on the first extra hole, recording an eagle on the par-5 18th, Ko picked up her first victory since the Marathon Classic in July 2016.

Ko had started the final round with a one-shot lead at 11-under overall, but the firstplace spot changed hands four times during the course of the day.

At one stage, Ko dropped to three over for the round, but she rallied on the back nine with birdies on the 10th, 13th, 15th and 18th holes.

Elsewhere, Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy played bogeyfree in the alternate-shot format and closed with a fiveunder 67 to win the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.