Ko Jin-young became the first player to retain the HSBC Women’s World Championship, firing a three-under par 69 to win on 17-under at Sentosa Country Club.
The South Korean, who is ranked number five in the world, has been suffering from injuries including a wrist injury and a knee injury, both of which severely affected her 2022 season. However, Ko battled away to secure an emotional and triumphant return on the course with victory in Singapore.
Ko had to beat off nearest competitor world number two Nelly Korda, who also shot a 69 to finish runner-up.
Ko entered the final round with a two-shot lead after firing successive 65s in rounds two and three. She extended her lead after sinking a birdie on the first and then again on the fifth. Korda then closed the gap to one behind after hitting three consecutive birdies but a bogey on the sixth meant the American staggered which opened the door for Ko to extend her lead once again which she did after she birdied the eighth.
Ko secured the victory with five pars after hitting a birdie on the par-five 13th, a hole Korda bogeyed.
“It’s a great honour to defend this title,” Ko said. “Before this week I practised really hard. I knew I was defending so I wanted to get one more trophy. It paid off and I’m really happy.”
Fellow Americans Danielle Kang and Allisen Corpuz were tied-third on 14 under with Japan’s Ayaka Furue.
The next event on the LPGA Tour is the LPGA Drive On Championship taking place between March 23-26 at the Superstition Mountain Golf Club in Arizona.