Patty Tavatanakit holds off fast-finishing Lydia Ko to win ANA Inspiration

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit held off a stunning last-day charge from 2016 winner Lydia Ko to claim her first major victory in the ANA Inspiration.
Patty Tavatanakit holds aloft the trophy after completing a wire-to-wire win in the 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration in California. Picture: Gabe RouxPatty Tavatanakit holds aloft the trophy after completing a wire-to-wire win in the 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration in California. Picture: Gabe Roux
Patty Tavatanakit holds aloft the trophy after completing a wire-to-wire win in the 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration in California. Picture: Gabe Roux

The 21-year-old calmly closed with a bogey-free 68 at Mission Hills Country Club in California to complete a wire-to-wire win in the opening major of 2021.

With an 18-under-par 270 total, Tavatanakit won by two shots from Ko after the Kiwi signed off with a sensational 62 at the Rancho Mirage venue.

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A group of four players, including Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen and American Nelly Korda, tied for third on 11-under-par.

“It's amazing I'm still calm, there is some calmness in me,” said Tavatanakit, whose jump into Poppie’s Pond alongside her caddie Ryan Hogue was almost as impressive and stylish as her on-course performance.

“I don't know why. I just wanted it to be done since this morning, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. But I meditated twice this morning. I knew it was going to be hard out here and I had to be really strong mentally.

“So it feels great to be a major champion. It still hasn't really sunk in yet the fact that I just turned 21 six months ago and now I'm a major champion in my rookie year. Just crazy.”

Ko’s 10-under-par closing salvo, which included an eagle and eight birdies, tied the lowest tournament round record, set by Lorena Ochoa in 2006.

“I was a little bit of a mess the first couple days,” she said. “I made more birdies than bogeys thank goodness, but I was making a lot of clumsy mistakes.

“I was just excited that I could be back in this kind of position and be under this adrenaline. Patty played amazing golf, and I tried to chase her, but she was just a bit too far away.”

England’s Mel Reid closed with a 67 to secure a tie for 14th spot on seven-under alongside compatriot Charley Hull (72).

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Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow matched Reid’s last-day score to sneak into the top 20 on six-under, two ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Leona Maguire (70).

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