Lydia Ko’s Inevitable Hall of Fame Entry Delayed by Nelly Korda’s Victory
By NCG
Lydia Ko‘s incredible rise to the top of women’s golf did not take long as she was crowned the youngest No.1 professional golfer in the men’s or women’s game when she was just 17.
Fast forward 9 years and Ko is on the brink of being inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame at just 26. However, she will have to wait a little bit longer as Nelly Korda fought back to enjoy a hometown victory in the LPGA Drive On Championship.
Ko’s next opportunity to earn her 27th point and enter the Hall of Fame will be at the Honda LPGA Thailand, held at the Siam Country Club on the Pattaya Old Course. This tournament takes place from February 22nd to February 25th.
Golf fans in the States will have a variety of markets to bet on during the tournament and those in States without legal online sportsbooks will be able to take advantage of a sportsbook available outside the US.
Experienced betting insider Alan Kendall explains that bettors can enjoy offshore betting operators anywhere in the US, with many offering a wide variety of markets, including moneyline, props, and parlays, so you can back Ko to win her next event outright or perhaps choose bets on her individual performance, like whether she’ll be leading after a certain round.
Ko will feel like she should already be a Hall of Famer, but there is no shame in losing a competitor as good as Nelly Korda. Korda was able to fight back from being three strokes behind to secure victory.
Korda went into the final day four shots ahead before dropping behind. An eagle on the 17th before a birdie in the last hole turned things around and earned a playoff.
Things were neck and neck after the first playoff hole as Korda and Ko both parred and it was on the second hole that the tournament was decided. Korda was able to make par after hitting through the green initially. Ko’s three putt left it up to Korda who’s chip landed just four feet from the hole.
Despite this disappointment, Ko will be focused on her next performance and is set to be only the sixth player to earn their way into the LPGA Hall of Fame in the last 21 years. Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, Inbee Park, and Lorena Ochoa are the five to have made it.
Ko’s career has been impressive from a young age, with 14 victories under her belt before she reached 20. She endured a barren spell between 2017 and 2021, earning just 1 point, but a five-point tally during the 2022 campaign saw her just two wins away.
A victory at the Tournament of Champions for Ko seemed to set up the Drive On Championship to be the setting for a historic victory, but it was not meant to be.
Ko’s career to date has seen her secure 20 wins, 2 major titles, 2 player of the year accolades, and 2 Vare Trophies. All eyes will be on the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament to see if Ko can get that extra point for golfing immortality.
