Jin Young Ko - Photo: DR

After a tied par 72 left him five strokes behind the Founders Cup leader on Friday, Ko spoke to compatriot Jennifer Song about the PGA Tour star.

"She told me that Dustin played really badly and didn't get mad - he put the clubs in the bag and walked," said Jin Young Ko. “So I tried like Dustin yesterday and today. I just tried not to be angry, not happy, just focused. "

It worked.

Jin Young Ko, 23, finished Sunday with bug-free laps of 64 and 65 at Desert Ridge for a victory one stroke ahead. She birdied the 14-16 and went by the last two to finish at 266 (-22), then won when point guard Yu Liu missed a 4,5-yard putt on the 18-par-4.

Liu tied for second place 70 with play partner Carlota Ciganda and sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda. Ciganda finished with a 69, Jessica Korda managed to eagle the two back par-5s of the 9 back for a 64, and Nelly Korda made a 66.

Choosing to putter with the flagstick in the hole under the new rules of golf, Jin Young Ko putt a four foot four on the 1 par-20, then birdied two putts on the 14 par-4 and did it again. a 15rd time in a row of one meter on par-5 of 3.

"A lot of players think that if there is a flagstick in the hole, the ball could hit it and come out", has Ko. “I think it's great to put the flag in because it's easier for me to putt because it's a small target. "

Ten-time winner on the Korean Tour, Jin Young Ko won the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea to secure her LPGA Tour card and won the Women's Australian Open last year.

She made a breakthrough in the United States last Sunday in the tournament that honors the 13 women who founded the LPGA Tour, a goal she gave too much thought to last year.

“But my friends told me, 'You can do it'. Also my manager and my parents, my caddy, everyone told me that I was able to do it, ” said Ko. “I have a lot of confidence for this year. Really good for a third win in the USA. "

Jin Young Ko has finished three top three times in four events this year. She was second behind Nelly Korda last month in defense of her Australian title and was third place three weeks ago in Singapore.

Liu, 23, missed an opportunity to follow Shanshan Feng as the second Chinese winner in Tour history.

"It was an incredible week for me"said Liu. “It's the first time I can play in the final, the first time being in contention. I did not manage as I wanted, but I feel there is always room for improvement. "

The former Duke player wasn't sure where she stood in the standings playing 18th.

"I didn't know exactly where I was, if I needed to birdie or just make the par and go to the playoff," said Liu. “I wasn't as focused as I would have liked. I think that's why I bogeyed. "

Ciganda played at Arizona State, helping the Sun Devils win the 2009 NCAA title.

"I would have loved to win", said the Spaniard. “It's always special here in Phoenix, but I couldn't today. "

Jessica Korda returned from a left forearm injury to make her first start of the season.

“Obviously, play without pain. It shows ", she says.

She made the par in the last two holes, missing a 6 meter putt on 17 and an even shorter one on 18.

“A little disappointed that I missed that last short putt because I knew I needed to make it. I thought it was going to go downhill. The difference between shadow and light confused me a bit. "

Nelly Korda finished in the top 10 for the fifth time in a row opening this season. She also did par on the last two holes.

"I'm depressed, but not too depressed because I played well this week and I'm happy with the way my game is going", she says. “I gave myself an opportunity on the last holes. I shaved the edge of the hole on the 17th and licked hard on the 18th unfortunately. "

Sung Hyun Park, who is in the Tour's top 10, faded after sharing the podium lead with Liu in the second round. The Singapore winner clocked laps of 69 and 72 last weekend to finish tied for 14th with 15 under par.

Concerning the Frenchwoman Céline Boutier after having receded in 3rd position (+1) she finished the last lap in the par and with a total score of -9 which made her share the 47th final place.