Lydia Ko Photo: AFP
Dame Lydia Ko has finished sixth at the LPGA tour's Tournament of Champions in Florida, her first event of the year.
New Zealand's top golfer started the day third equal, four shots from leader A-Lim Kim, heading into the final round of the LPGA season-opener, a title she won last year.
But three bogeys in her first six holes meant she was unable to challenge the South Korean, who went on to win by two shots.
Kim completed a wire-to-wire victory, despite the world number one Nelly Korda breathing down her neck. Kim posted her second straight 5-under-par 67 to finish the event at 20-under.
Korda made a late push, with nine birdies in her round of 65, but she fell short and placed second at 18 under. Sweden's Linn Grant shot a 69 to take third at 15 under.
It marks Kim's third win on the LPGA Tour and her second in a three-month span. In early November, she broke through at the Lotte Championship for her first victory stateside since the 2020 US Women's Open.
Kim had to birdie three of her last four holes to make sure Korda wasn't too close. Korda, a seven-time winner last season, could only manage pars at Nos. 16 and 17.
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