Lydia Ko celebrates a birdie during her final round at the ANA Inspiration. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has fallen just short of her third golf major title after a record-breaking final round at the ANA Inspiration.
Heading into the final day, Ko sat eight shots behind leader Patty Tavatanakit from Thailand. However, she hit five birdies and an eagle on her way
to a seven-under front nine on the Rancho Mirage course to light up the tournament's finish.
Her front-nine 29 set the ANA nine-hole scoring record, and ties the lowest nine-hole score at any major championship.
Ko then hit two further birdies to begin her back nine before recording another on the 15th hole to finish at 10-under for her round - tying the course record - to create a thrilling finish to the first major of the year on the LPGA Tour.
Ko was relying on the 21-year-old Tavatanakit to falter in her quest for a maiden major, but she remained calm under pressure and recorded par scores over her final six holes to seal a final round of 68, two shots ahead of Ko.
