By Kent Gray
Lydia Ko won in a canter on the course and then knocked it out of the park in the media centre.

The 24-year-old turned a four-stroke overnight lead into a five-shot victory with a Sunday 65 at the $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF.

Thai Atthaya Thitikul finished second, the 18-year-old’s closing 66 pushing her five-clear of Carlota Ciganda (Spain) and Alice Hewson (England) and sealing the LET’s season-long Race to Costa del Sol champion in her rookie year.

But this was Ko’s moment. The Korean-born Kiwi birdied the 1st at Royal Greens Golf & Country and never looked back, finishing -23. But she did look forward after her sixth LET triumph in the second edition of the Golf Saudi sanctioned event.

In its inaugural year, the Kingdom boasted fewer than 20 female players but the event inspired 1200 women and girls to sign-up to learn golf over its four days, all through Golf Saudi’s world-first free golf initiative, the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco.

“Hopefully, with the tournament being on here for the last couple of years, more and more women have the courage to take up golf and want to, in the future, come and play this event,” said Ko.

“It was really cool meeting a few of the Ladies First Club members over these past few days and to them, I’d just say keep working hard and show the power of women.”

After ending a near three-year title drought at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship in April, the pressure has lifted from the former world No.1’s shoulders.

“When I was out there I was just trying to play the best golf I can,” Ko said of her final day strategy.

“I knew a lot of the top names were playing well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I just tried to have my share of them, have fun out there and enjoy the experience at Royal Greens.

“It helps going into the final round and you have a four-shot cushion, as we could possibly shoot the same score but I still have those shots from the last three days. I birdied the first hole then holed two really good putts for par on two and three and I think that kind of set my momentum and I just tried to not look back and keep going forward. I’m delighted to have won.”

Thitikul was pretty chuffed too even if Ko never gave her a sniff of victory.

“It was a good fight today. I just did my best out there but Lydia Ko is just the best – brilliant. She was really good with her putting, her approach shots, everything she did this week. I will definitely learn from her to get better myself,” said Thitikul.

Atthaya Thitikul.

“It’s an honour and really an amazing feeling for me to win the Race to the Costa del Sol this year, on my rookie year as well. Words cannot describe it.”

On her shared third-place finish – secured with a closing day four-under-par 68 – Spain’s Ciganda said: “I played pretty solid. I hit a lot of fairways and lots of greens. I didn’t make as many putts as I would’ve liked to but some weeks they go in and some weeks they don’t. I’m happy with the week – Lydia and Atthaya played incredible.

“It’s been a great week. I love the course and think it’s a great set-up for us. Everything’s been great – the hospitality, the hotel. I know it’s a little bit hot but it’s a great place and it’s been great for Saudi women and Saudi sports to have a women’s golf tournament like this.”

England’s Hewson added: “I’ve had a really great week. I struggled a little bit off the tee the first few days but straightened things out today. I’m delighted with third. This is probably one of the strongest fields we’ve played this year with a lot of LPGA girls here this week, so I’m very happy.”

The Ladies European Tour action continues in Saudi Arabia later this week with the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, the last of four new $1million team tournaments added to the Tour this season and taking place at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Nov. 10-12.