Ko Jin-young "Cheers for 2 Consecutive Final Match Wins and 5 Victories~"... 'Player of the Year and Prize Money King Crowned' (Comprehensive)

CME Group Tour Championship 1-Stroke Victory '1.8 Billion Jackpot', Koda Tied 5th 'No Title', Lydia Ko Wins Vare Trophy

Jinyoung is posing with the Player of the Year trophy right after winning the final event of the 2021 season, the CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz Photo by Multivitz

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a spectacular finale for ‘Number 2’ Ko Jin-young (26).

On the 22nd (Korean time), at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,556 yards), Ko Jin-young surged with a 9-under-par on the final day of the CME Group Tour Championship, the final event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season (total prize money $5 million), to secure a one-stroke victory (23-under-par 265). She successfully defended her title, marking her fifth win of the season and 12th career victory, with a winner’s prize of $1.5 million (1.785 billion KRW). In addition, she claimed both the Player of the Year award (211 points) and the money title ($3,502,161).

Starting as a co-leader by one stroke, Ko Jin-young displayed perfect play with nine birdies and no bogeys. She made birdies on the 1st hole (par 5), consecutive birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes, a birdie on the 6th hole (par 5), and back-to-back birdies on the 8th and 9th holes, storming ahead by six strokes in the front nine. On the back nine, she kept competitors at bay with “stepping stone birdies” on the 11th and 13th holes and a birdie on the 17th hole (par 5). She relied on 100% accuracy in both fairway hits and greens in regulation.

Ko Jin-young became the only player to win five times this season, including the Volunteers of America Classic in July, the Cambia Portland Classic in September, the Cognizant Founders Cup and BMW Ladies Championship in October. Despite left wrist pain, she achieved the historic feat of becoming the first Korean to win the money title three consecutive times. This is a rare record in the LPGA Tour, first seen in 13 years since Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) from 2006 to 2008. She also won the Player of the Year title for the first time in two years since 2019.

She swept major individual titles, including the CME Globe Race, which converts annual performance into points, and a spot in the ‘Leaders Top 10.’ Her incredible strength is shown by five wins and eight top-10 finishes in the last nine tournaments. It is expected that she will either overtake or narrow the gap with world No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA). Ko Jin-young, who said, “I couldn’t practice much because of wrist pain,” exclaimed, “Looking back, it was an amazing year. Many people helped me achieve these great results.”

‘Two-time champion’ Hataoka Nasa (Japan) posted an 8-under-par but had to settle for second place (22-under-par 266). Celine Boutier (France) and Mina Harigae (USA) tied for third place (18-under-par 270). Korda, who played alongside Ko Jin-young, finished with a 3-under-par, dropping to a tie for fifth place (17-under-par 271). She lost both the money title and Player of the Year to Ko Jin-young, finishing second in both. “Now that the season is over, I will rest well and prepare for next year,” she said.

Lydia Ko (New Zealand) finished tied for ninth place (15-under-par 273) and received the Vare Trophy (lowest scoring average). For Korea, Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) tied for fifth, while Kim Sei-young (28), Yoo So-yeon (31, both Mediheal), and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) tied for 15th place (13-under-par 275). The LPGA Tour will start next January with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament in Orlando, Florida, USA (total prize money $1.2 million).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.