It has been said many times that no career in golf is complete without a tournament win at the Old Course at St Andrews. It is an aphorism that is only slightly hyperbolic. So many of the game’s true greats – Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Lorena Ochoa come to mind – have tasted victory at the home of golf. It is a place where the very best have always tended to do well. And to that distinguished list we can add the name of Lydia Ko.
With a final round of 69, the former world No 1 and current Olympic gold medallist held off a cluster of challengers over the closing holes to claim her third major title. A par at the infamous Road Hole – where she struck a magnificent approach through heavy wind and rain on to the elusive green – was impressive enough. But a birdie on the 18th took Ko to seven under par and a score of 281 that no one could match.
