Park hits top gear to take historic gold

RIO: Inbee Park’s first victory of the season might just be the biggest of her career – a gold medal in women’s golf.

Park made three straight birdies early in the final round yesterday to build a big lead, never let anyone closer than three shots the rest of the way, and closed with a 5-under 66 for a five-shot victory at Olympic Golf Course. Lydia Ko of New Zealand didn’t stand a chance, and neither did anyone else.

“This is one of the special moments in my golfing career and in my whole life,” Park said. Ko, the No 1 player in women’s golf who started the final round two shots behind, at least made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 69 to claim the silver. Shanshan Feng of China shot 69 for the bronze.

A South Korean on top of the podium was not a surprise. Not many would have expected it to be Park. She has played poorly all year because of ligament damage in her left thumb, leading to speculation she was going to retire.

Park had not faced top competition in two months and missed the last two majors on the LPGA Tour to prepare for the Olympics. But when she missed the cut in a Korean LPGA earlier this month, the 28-year-old South Korean heard chatter that she should give up her spot to another player in form.

Instead, she reminded those in her golf-passionate country why she ranks among the best.

Park said: “I haven’t performed well this year. But I’ve worked hard this week and it paid off.”

Park already has seven majors, including the career Grand Slam, and earlier this year she became the youngest in history to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Now she has the first gold medal awarded in women’s golf since 1900.

Stacy Lewis had a chance at a medal for the Americans with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. However, she missed her 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole and shot 66, finishing one stroke out of the bronze.

Maria Verchenova of Russia posted the lowest score, a 62 that featured the third hole-in-one of the tournament.

This final round was all about Park. She finished at 16-under 268, the same score with which Justin Rose won the gold medal last Sunday in men’s golf. – AP