4-way tie at LPGA finale with $1.5M at stake
Nelly Korda NAPLES, FLA. — and Jin Young Ko are part of a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the season, with nothing less than $1.5 million and LPGA Player of the Year on the line.
Ko started pouring in putts from everywhere and ran off seven straight birdies that helped her make up a sixshot deficit and carried her to a 6-under 66. Korda followed by overpowering the par 5s on the back nine at Tiburon for a 67 to get back in the game.
They were tied at the CME Group Tour Championship with Celine Boutier of France, who started with a four-shot lead and wasn’t hurt by her 72, and Nasa Hataoka of Japan who had the low round of a windblown Saturday at 64.
They were at 14-under 202, setting up a final day bursting with possibilities.
Gaby Lopez of Mexico was poised to join the until her approach to the 18th found water down a slope so severe she barely found a spot to place the ball without it rolling away. She did well to escape with bogey for a 69 and was one shot behind along with Mina Harigae (69).
A dozen players were separated by two shots, a group that includes Lexi Thompson, who took bogey on the last hole for a 68 and still was right in the mix.
The winner gets $1.5 million, the largest prize in women’s golf.
McIlroy has one-shot lead at Dubai event
Rory McIlroy was on the rocks late in his third round at the DP World Tour Championship.
Some cliff-edge improvisation, followed by a finalhole birdie, put him back in control.
McIlroy delivered another wild finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates in shooting a 5-under 67 that left the four-time major champion with a onestroke lead on Saturday.
Sam Horsfield bogeyed the 18th hole to shoot 69 and drop out of a share of the lead with McIlroy, who was 14 under in the season-closing event on the European Tour.
Collin Morikawa was three shots back after his round of 69.