GOLD, to go with silver and bronze for star Kiwi
Lydia Ko captured the gold in Paris making it a complete set of Olympic medals for the Kiwi star.
New Zealand star Lydia Ko now has a complete set of Olympic medals after claiming the gold with a victory at the women’s golf event at the Paris Olympic Games.
In her third Olympic Games, Ko won the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, then bronze in Tokyo, with the Kiwi adding gold to her collection following her two-shot win at the Le Golf National course.
Ko built up a handy lead during the final round, then showed a measure of composure down the stretch, holding off the challenge of German Esther Henseleit, with Xiyu Lin of China a shot further back in taking home the bronze.
“To be holding and wearing this gold medal, it’s pretty crazy right now,” Ko expressed immediately following her win.
Australian Hannah Green finished fourth, and while likely to be disappointed to fall one shot short of the medal podium, after opening with a five-over par 77 Green would have been proud of her efforts in working her way back into contention in the last round.
As a result of her Olympic victory the 27-year-old Ko became the 35th player to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, and the second youngest member of that esteemed club behind Australian great Karrie Webb.
A total of 27 points are required to qualify for entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame, with Ko’s tally including two points for each of her two major victories, one point for her other 18 LPGA wins, one point for winning LPGA Player of the Year (twice) and for the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average (twice).
Irish golf on top of the world
The latest biennial list of the World Top 100 golf courses, complied by an international golf magazine, has recently been published and 14 Irish courses have made the grade.
It is an impressive figure when considering that according to this ratings list 14 per cent of the world’s best golf courses come from the same small nation. Those involved in the Irish golf tourism industry who take great pride in their magnificent collection of courses are far from surprised, while also ready, willing and able to host visiting golfers from around the world.
Royal Portrush, ranked #4 on the world’s best courses list, will host the 2025 Open Championship.
Royal County Down has remained at #1 in being rated the world’s best and there are five new additions to the nine Irish courses on the 2022 list, with locals, and those golfers to have visited the island, believing there are several other courses from the more than 400 in Ireland that could stake a claim to be included.
The top five Irish courses on the World Top 100 list included Royal County Down (Championship) 1, Royal Portrush (Dunluce) 4, Ballybunion (Old) 10, Lahinch (Old) 27 and Portmarnock (Old) 37.
Ireland also has approximately one third of the true links courses in the world, with the demand for premium Irish golf continuing to grow.
And with the Open Championship returning to Ireland in 2025, to be played at the Royal Portrush course, never has there been a better reason to put a trip to Ireland, either for the Open Championship or for that unique golfing holiday, on the bucket list.
Check out the website at www.ggolfireland.org or email golf@ggolfireland.org and for more information and make some plans.
Scheffler’s sensational 2024 season
IT’S not quite over, with American Scottie Scheffler to lead the US Team at the Presidents Cup and battle for the Fed Ex Cup title in the coming weeks, however when the year comes to an end the American world number one will look back on what has been a wild ride in 2024.
His first success came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, before The Players Championship at Sawgrass, then his second Masters title at Augusta in April.
Four more wins then came ahead of Scheffler packing his bags and his American team apparel for the Paris Olympics.
Before that he created worldwide headlines after being arrested due to a traffic infringement prior to the second round of the PGA Championship in Kentucky, while he also became a dad for the first time in May when wife Meredith gave birth to son Bennett.
A remarkable back nine charge saw Scottie Scheffler win gold at the Paris Olympics.
Then just for good measure, comes a gold medal in Paris when a remarkable back nine charge, combined with a Jon Rahm meltdown, resulted in a one-shot win.
Scheffler shot 62 on the final day in finishing 19-under par.
Brit Tommy Fleetwood claimed silver in finishing second, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was third a shot further back.
An emotional Scheffler, who shed a tear at the medal ceremony, was understandably proud of his achievement in Paris.
“It’s tough to compare accomplishments, but an Olympic gold medal is definitely going to be one of my special memories when I look back on my career. This was a fun week, it was great representing the USA, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal.”
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