Ko has plenty left to play for
Lydia Ko now has a rival for the richest prize in women’s golf. Ireland’s Leona Maguire had four straight birdies around the turn and added a pair of birdies late for a nine-under 63, allowing her to catch Ko in the CME Tour Championship and set up a finalround duel.
At stake this morning at Tiburon Golf Club is US $2 million to the winner.
Maguire, one of 11 first-time winners on the LPGA Tour this year, is too far back in the points race to win LPGA player of the year, though $2 million ($3.32m) in a single day would make up for that. That would be nearly twice what Maguire has made in 23 previous events.
Barring a final round collapse, Ko is still set to win the player of the year title, and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, but she now has a battle on her hands to cap off her season with a threepeat by also winning the Tour Championship.
Ko had a five-shot lead to start the third round — seven shots ahead of Maguire — and made a mixture of birdies and bogeys that stalled her round. She fell one shot behind Maguire until chipping to tap-in range on the par-five 17th. She finished with a 70.
They are at 15-under in what shapes as a two-player race for the $2 million. No one else is closer than five shots. The forecast for today is for rain and 32 km/h gusts.
Despite losing her big lead, Ko was content with her solid round.
“A few putts here and there that could have, should have, would have. Not taking advantage of some of the par-fives — that was probably the few shots that made it a difference during the last couple of days.
“There were some really low scores out there, and I feel like that happens every day, so I knew that even though I had a lead, it could go really quick.
“It’s not going to be easy, and I just want to play good golf and golf that I don’t regret. And whatever happens, hopefully it swings my way, but if not, I’m just going to try my best and enjoy it.”
While Ko is still in a strong position to win her Order of Merit title, fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox has fallen out of contention at the DP World Tour Championship.
Fox is at one-under through three rounds of the season-ending event, in a tie for 26th, 14 shots off the lead, and 11 behind Race to Dubai frontrunner Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy is well-placed for another Race to Dubai title after his sevenunder 65 left him three shots off the lead heading into the final round.
Jon Rahm holds a one-stroke lead after a bogey-free 65 put the Spaniard at 15-under at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he seeks to win the individual event for a third time.
McIlroy is tied for fourth with Tyrrell Hatton (72).
On the PGA Tour, Kiwi Danny Lee is set for his best finish of the season at the RSM Classic.
Lee carded a four-under 66 to move to 10-under, in a tie for 17th. Patrick Rodgers and Ben Martin lead by a shot at 14-under.