Ko falls off pace in US major

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has slid way out of contention at the Women’s PGA Championship in Illinois

Ko was tied for 12th after two rounds at Olympia Fields Country Club, but a poor round where she shot a five-over 76, including nine bogeys, yesterday has her now in a share of 48th place.

She is 11 shots off leaders Chella Choi of South Korea and Danielle Kang of the United States, who are 10 under. South Korea’s Jiyai Shin is two shots back in third.

Choi shot a 4-under 67 yesterday for a share of the lead with Danielle Kang heading into the final round.

Choi credited her solid play to her father, Ji Yeon Choi, who is caddieing for her again after her play suffered when he retired following her only LPGA Tour victory in the 2015 Marathon Classic.

Kang birdied the par-5 18th to join Choi at 10 under, setting up a final pairing of two players looking for their first major title. Kang had a 68, also birdieing the 18th.

Shin rocketed up the leaderboard with a 64, the best round of the day and good enough for third all by herself at 8 under.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson was another stroke back after a 69 yesterday.

The 20-year-old Ko is one over for the tournament, having carded a oneunder-par 70 in the first round and a three-under 68 in the second round.

In the third round, Ko had two birdies on the front nine, on the first and the fourth, but had five bogeys, on the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh.

The back nine was much of the same as she birdied the 14th and 18th holes, but shot four more bogeys on the 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th.

The late birdie on the 18th kept her in the share for 48th place.

She lost her world No 1 ranking last month and hasn’t had a tour win for a year. She is now third in the world after an 85-week stint as No 1.