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Still battling a wrist injury that derailed her 2022 season, Ko burst into tears after her triumphant return at Sentosa as she finished with a 17-under-par total of 271, taking home the $US270,000 ($A400,000) first prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a great honour to defend this title again, and this week was too long for me but too great, so I’m so happy,\u201d Ko said.<\/p>\n
Ko was unflappable on the front nine and although she faltered with a bogey on the 11th, she sank a 30-foot putt for birdie on the 13th and a two-foot par putt on the final hole to edge American Korda by two shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s always hard to play with Nelly, especially on Sunday,\u201d Ko said of her head-to-head battle with her fellow former World No.1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been playing together yesterday, and today was second time. We had a lot of times to play in 2021. She hits farther than last year, I think. So I don’t look at her ball. I didn’t look at her ball or her playing. It’s hard but love to compete with Nelly.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then I thought, Nelly is a good player, so I just wanted to learn something from her.<\/p>\n
Korda drained a four-foot birdie putt for a 69 and second place on 15-under, finishing a stroke ahead of Japan’s Ayaka Furue (67) and compatriots Danielle Kang (68) and Allisen Corpuz (69), who tied for third on 14-under.<\/p>\n
Hannah Green carded a one-under 71 to finish 10 shots behind Ko in a tie for 20th to be the best-placed Australian.<\/p>\n
Compatriot Minjee Lee was in a tie for 52nd after a final round 74.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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