In 2022, Lydia Ko continued where she left off – at the top. The World No. The World No. 1 shot an 8-under 64 during the first round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International. This was in collaboration with Pajaree Annannarukarn.
Ko said, “It’s cool that I have an officially below par round as Mrs.” He closed the 2022 season by winning the CME Group Tour Championship. There were also a number of other year-end accolades.
She married Jun Chung Dec. 30, at the Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, from there.
“I had a few days to prepare. Ko said that he played a lot of golf on his honeymoon, which was a problem for this one. “But my husband is a golf lover and we both enjoy it together so we took advantage. It was actually a blessing that made my transition to off-season practice much easier.
“Yeah. If someone said that you were going to play eight holes of golf in two weeks while on your honeymoon, I would probably have laughed at them, but it was reality and I had so much joy.”
On her honeymoon, she even had an ace with Chung.
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Ko, who was the winner of this event in 2021 recorded eight birdies at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Thursday in a bogey free round. She also noted that her putter felt very confident. David Jones, a veteran caddie, was the Kiwi’s new caddie as she started the season.
She said that wind is a major factor on the golf course, and she recommends using it when you have the opportunity.
Lydia Ko wins 2021 Aramco Saudi Ladies International (courtesy Aramco)
Saudi Ladies International is a Ladies European Tour sanctioned event that features 15 of the top thirty players in the Rolex Rankings. The prize fund for the women’s event in Saudi is now equal to $5 million. This is the largest prize in women’s golf, other than the majors and LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship ($7million).
The six LET-sponsored Saudi-backed events in 2023 remain controversial due to the extensive human rights violations Saudi Arabia has been accused, particularly towards women.
Atthaya Thitikul was the LPGA’s Rookie of The Year last season. She is currently one stroke behind Aditi Ashok, Jung Min Hong, and recent LET winner Jung Min Hong. Ashok won the Magical Kenya Ladies Open earlier in the month, and then followed it up with a third-place finish last week in Morocco.
Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented By Public Investment Fund Royal Greens Golf & Country Club King Abdullah Economic City Jeddah Saudi Arabia 16-19 February. Aditi Ashok from India in the first round. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET
This week’s field includes 13 major champions, including Lexi Thompson who opened at even par 72 and had bogeys on both of her par 5s. In Gee Chun, Anna Nordqvist and three-time major winners opened with 70 and 75, respectively.
Nordqvist was one of many female professionals sponsored by Golf Saudi. She recently informed the Swedish news agency TT she had terminated her sponsorship with them. Nordqvist wore an Aramco Team Series cap when she won 2021 AIG Women’s British Open in Carnoustie. She also had the Golf Saudi logo on the sleeves.
Nordqvist stated that her decision to leave the partnership was based on the backlash she received from Aramco and that she will continue playing in Aramco sponsored events throughout the season.
Nordqvist said in an interview to TT that it didn’t turn out as I expected.
She said that she needed to be more self-aware and added: “I didn’t expect to receive such an overwhelming amount of hate and mean comments from people who don’t know me.”
Meghan MacLaren, an English player, who has criticised in the past sportswashing in Saudi Arabia in the past, opened with a score of 74.
By: Beth Ann Nichols
Title: Lydia Ko played eight rounds of golf on her honeymoon and then opened with a 64 to co-lead the Saudi Ladies International
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/02/16/lydia-ko-aramco-saudi-ladies-international/
Published Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:05:22 +0000
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