New Zealand’s Lydia Ko’s hopes of finishing her 2019 campaign on a high note have fallen short after she had a poor start at the Tour Championship that’s taking place in Florida. The Kiwi golfer managed to card a one over 73 in the first round of the LPGA season finale, and is now sitting eight shots behind current leader Sei Young Kim. The day had started well for Ko, who birdied on the first hole while playing on the Tiburon Golf Club course. And despite the strong start, the 22 year old had struggled to maintain her consistency after dropping four shots as well as a double bogey on the 11th that left her far off pace.
She managed to rally with birdies on three of her last five holes, but it was only enough to push her to 40th place. Ko was the best player in the world during the 2015 to 2017 seasons, but her success rates have since fallen over the last year, and she started her latest tournament at number 35 in the overall rankings.
Her last tour victory was 19 months ago, and the player has had only four top 10 finishes so far this season, with a single top 20 finish in her last nine tournaments. Kim, on the other hand, was tied at the top alongside Georgia Hall and So Yeon Ryu late in her round before she pulled away with an eagle on the 17th.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.9/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Gary Hicks
When it comes to knowing what’s going on, on the track, field or any other sporting arena, Gary Hicks is your man. With an almost unrivalled passion for journalism, sports and betting Gary decided to combine his love of all 3 and share his expertise with the world.
In the last few years Gary has risen through the ranks and prides himself on always keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s hot and happening in the sports betting world. Gary is the resident news expert at OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz and his articles make for invaluable fodder for any avid punter.
You May Also Like:
US Golfer Hits Super Unique Hole-In-One
A stunning hole-in-one played by US amateur golfer Allison Koehnke is making sports news headlines for a single reason, and a single reason only: the 95-metre shot was aced by ….
Internationals Lead in Presidents Cup
The International team claimed a 4-1 lead against the United States during the opening day fourballs of the Presidents Cup that took place at Royal Melbourne in Australia. Captain of ….
Esther Henseleit Wins First LET Order of Merit
German Esther Henseleit has won her first Ladies European Tour Order of Merit title after hitting a new course record and subsequently winning the Magical Kenya Ladies Open. The 20 ….
Anne Van Dam Wins Andalucía Costa del Sol Open
The Netherlands’ Anne van Dam has won the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open for the second consecutive year after she was able to overturn a one-stroke deficit during the final ….
Sam Jones Wins NZ Amateur Championship
Sam Jones has emerged as the new champion of the New Zealand Amateur Golf championship for 2019, and is the first person from Taranaki to hold the title in 70 ….