Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Despite injury, J.Y. Ko eyes historic finish, $1.5 million at LPGA finale

Written by 
Published in Golf
Tuesday, 19 November 2019 10:40

NAPLES, Fla. – Rolex world No. 1 Jin Young Ko isn’t sure how her injured left ankle will hold up this week as she looks to finish off a historic season.

“Still a little worried,” she said Tuesday during her news conference at the CME Group Tour Championship.

A $1.5 million first-place check is up for grabs in the LPGA’s season finale. It’s the richest winner’s check in the history of women’s golf.

Ko felt pain in her ankle finishing off the first round of the Taiwan Swinging Skirts event three weeks ago, in her last start before coming to Naples. She withdrew in the middle of the third round because of the pain.

“I’m hopefully getting better,” Ko said.

Ko may need some extra strength to push the wheelbarrow full of hardware she’s lined up to win this week.

She won’t have to wait until the final putt drops Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship to begin hauling in all the awards and honors.

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan got it all started Tuesday, handing Ko the trophy for most top-10 finishes this season. Her four victories, two of them major championships, were among her 12 top-10s this year.

“Get used to holding trophies,” Whan told Ko. “It’s going to be a big night on Thursday.”

That’s the night of the Rolex LPGA Awards Dinner.

Ko has already won the Rolex Annika Major Award and clinched the Rolex Player of the Year Award. She’s poised to add the Vare Trophy for low scoring average and the LPGA money title. She’s looking to join Ariya Jutanugarn as the only players to sweep all those awards as the Rolex world No. 1.

“She’s a really solid player,” world No. 3 Nelly Korda said. “Amazing on the putting green. I’m always at awe with her short game.”

That appears to be the last piece Ko needed to become the best player in the women’s game.

Ko has trimmed nearly a stroke off her scoring average from last year. She won the Rolex Rookie of the Year Award last season with a 69.81 scoring average. She’s at 69.05 so far this year with a chance to join Annika Sorenstam as the only players to win the Vare Trophy for low scoring with an average better than 69 strokes for the season.

Ko is one of the best ball-strikers in the women’s game. She led the tour in hitting greens in regulation last year and leads it again this year. The big difference in her scoring average has come in her short game and putting.

After tying for 69th at the CME Group Tour Championship last year, Ko stayed in Naples determined to improve her short game, a weakness in her all-around skills. She brought in Gareth Raflewski, a short-game and putting specialist, and they worked together in a boot-camp style regimen.

“We worked together every day for two weeks,” Raflewski said.

He also works with the Jutanugarn sisters and Lydia Ko.

“We changed her putter and her setup,” Raflewski said. “Her chipping was one dimensional. She couldn’t hit it high, couldn’t spin it or bump and run it. I taught her so many different shots.”

Raflewski said the changes required some stubborn determination to master.

“At the beginning, she said, `I’m not getting this at all,’” Raflewski said. “But now, she owns all those shots. She doesn’t just have all the shots. She knows when to hit them, what to do in every situation. She’s using all of her own instincts now.”

Players competing against Ko see it.

“I’ve played with her quite a bit, and she's just overall such a great player,” Lexi Thompson said. “Very consistent, and not many weaknesses. There really isn't. Just consistent off the tee. Very straight. And her short game is unbelievable.”

It’s why Ko will walk away with all those trophies this week.

And, if her ankle holds up, possibly a $1.5 million check, too.

Read 283 times

Soccer

Conte: Prayers not enough for Napoli title win

Conte: Prayers not enough for Napoli title win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli are the surprise early pacesetters in Serie A this season, b...

Ex-Man Utd star Dwight Yorke named T&T coach

Ex-Man Utd star Dwight Yorke named T&T coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Manchester United star Dwight Yorke was appointed coach of T...

Maresca warns against piling pressure on Palmer

Maresca warns against piling pressure on Palmer

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsChelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said he does not want to pile pres...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pelicans lose McCollum, Jones for multiple weeks

Pelicans lose McCollum, Jones for multiple weeks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum will miss 2-to-3 weeks while...

76ers' Embiid, George won't play vs. Grizzlies

76ers' Embiid, George won't play vs. Grizzlies

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCAMDEN, N.J. -- Joel Embiid and Paul George will each miss a fifth...

Baseball

Orioles acquire OF Cameron in trade with A's

Orioles acquire OF Cameron in trade with A's

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Daz Cameron from the Oakl...

Angels acquire Kingery from Phillies for cash

Angels acquire Kingery from Phillies for cash

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Philadelphia Phillies traded infielder/outfielder Scott Kingery...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated