ANA Inspiration recap: What happened in 2016
Lydia Ko might still be a teenager now but not too long ago there were some who questioned her ability to perform on the biggest stage – ie the majors.
At last year’s ANA the New Zealander made it consecutive major titles with a one-shot victory, becoming the youngest double major winner in the history of the game since Young Tom Morris at the 1869 Open Championship.
She will be remembered for the wedge to the 72nd hole that finished stiff to pip our own Charley Hull and In Gee Chun but it was her putter that had kept her in it over the closing stretch as Ariya Jutanugarn threatened to run away with the title.
The Thai star bogeyed 16 and and 17 to lose her late two-shot advantage and then made it a hat-tricks of mishaps when she snap-hooked a driver into the water at the last.
Hull and Chun both birdied the last, while overnight leader Lexi Thompson actually made an eagle. However, her day had already been undone by her putter.
Ko left herself with pretty much nothing to do thanks to a quite brilliant and nerveless pitch shot. Back-to-back tournaments, back- to-back majors and no more talk of when.
This year Ko will arrive in California with a new coach (Gary Gilchrist who also coaches World No 2 Jutanugarn), new clubs and a new caddie from last year.
Follow Lydia on Twitter: @LydiaKo
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