ANA Inspiration report: Jin Young Ko claims maiden major title

ANA Inspiration report: What happened at Rancho Mirage?

Jin Young Ko collected her first major title at the ANA Inspiration this weekend as she became the fifth Korean to win the event.

Having held the 54-hole lead, Ko was in control and simply needed to continue to produce the stunning golf that we have seen from her all season.

SPLASH! 💦

Jin Young Ko's first major @ANAinspiration and caddie David Brooker's 3rd jump into Poppie's Pond. Wow. pic.twitter.com/4kypIXNAUi

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 8, 2019

Sunday’s round of 2-under-par opened up a three-shot gap to her nearest challenger, Mi Hyang Lee, who achieved her best major championship finish too.

Jin Young Ko wins the 2019 @ANAinspiration and is a first-time Major Champion!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GtfldmYdLF

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 8, 2019

The current Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year birdied two of her closing three holes to add to her victory at the Founder’s Cup earlier this year.

Jin Young Ko led the field in birdies and greens in regulation at the @ANAinspiration, a recipe for Major success.

During her final round, Ko birdied two of her final three holes to lock up her victory.

HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Zh1qcGRs4J

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 8, 2019

Lexi Thompson posted one of the rounds of the day on Sunday with an impressive 5-under 67 to seal a solo third finish, which is her best result since winning the 2018 Tour Championship.

ANA Inspiration report: Talking points

With her second win of the season, Ko is projected to move to the summit of the Rolex Rankings.

She will jump from 5th to 1st and take the place of Sung Hyun Park.

Following her major championship victory @ANAinspiration, Jin Young Ko is projected to move to No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings when the rankings are officially released on Monday.

Ko is projected to overtake Sung Hyun Park, who has held the top spot since March 4, 2019. pic.twitter.com/sXgH0cSMMx

— LPGA Media (@LPGAMedia) April 8, 2019

Ko’s caddie, David Brooker, made history himself by becoming the first caddie to win the ANA Inspiration with three different players.

He was alongside Grace Park in 2004 and Lorena Ochoa Reyes in 2008, so David is no stranger to taking a dip in Poppie’s Pond.

Caddie David Brooker has jumped into Poppie's Pond twice in his career – once with 2004 winner Grace Park and once with 2008 champion @LorenaOchoaR. Today he's on Jin Young Ko's bag. Will he be the first to win 3 times with a different player? @ANAinspiration pic.twitter.com/TR7xFjAOaX

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 7, 2019

The spotlight was firmly on the women’s game this week with the Jordan Mixed Open taking place as well as the ground-breaking Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Meghan MacLaren was in contention in Jordan and narrowly missed out to Challenge Tour Player Daan Huizing.

Over at Augusta, women were playing a competitive round for the very first time and it was no.1 amateur, Jennifer Kupcho who played the final six holes in 5-under par to claim the inaugural ANWA title.