Lydia Ko didn’t chase history at the LPGA Ford Championship. That’s exactly why she came within a shot of it.

She came within a shot of a 59 at the LPGA Ford Championship, a number reached only once in LPGA history by Annika Sorenstam. Instead, she signed for a 60, her personal best and just the ninth sub-60 round on tour.

“I think when you're in to the zone you're just focused and there is not as many external thoughts going in and out of your head.”

Lydia Ko had Sorenstam’s record in her mind. After having birdied her first four holes (starting on No. 10), she mentioned,

“Oh, I felt very calm. Honestly, like when I was younger I hated birdieing the first hole for some stupid reason.”

Ko recorded eight birdies in her opening round. Two birdies on the 14th and 15th holes boosted her momentum.

“I got into a really good momentum and I think that is what helped me kind of stay in my zone. I really wasn't out of position that many times so it's a lot easier to be in that kind of rhythm and tempo.”

Ko did not strike a 7-foot birdie putt convincingly enough on the par-5 seventh hole, failing to reach the 59-score milestone because of that. However, she was always in control.

For Ko, that focus meant ignoring the historic score and committing to each shot individually.

The 28-year-old, won her first LPGA major at just 18 years of age at the 2015 Evian Championship.

The Switch That Almost Created History

“It's a new Scotty Cameron 12. As most people know I have a thing I have my love towards Scotty Cameron putters, so it's very unusual for me to change out of my putter.”

Her caddie was one of the first to notice the change on the 2nd hole. 

“I felt like you never know until you play out there and obviously I -- this has only been one round but it's a good start. You know, really couldn't have been any better,” Ko said.

The opening 60 translated into a strong overall finish for Lydia Ko at the LPGA Ford Championship, underlining that it wasn’t just a one-round surge but a performance that held up across the week.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav