Hours After Scripting LPGA History, Huge $450,000 Payday Overshadowed by a Barrage of Emotions From Jin Young Ko

It was her third victory in the last five years. Jin Young Ko defeated her opponent Minjee Lee at the LPGA Tour Cognizant Founders Cup Champions Sunday at the Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey. Ko turned the tables when her opponent, Lee three-putted for a bogey.

During the sudden-death playoff, Ko shot a bogey-free 5-under-67 and a 13-under total and overcame a four-shot deficit to Lee. The South Korean birdied all four rounds at the 18th hole. 

Jin Young Ko steals away her 15th LPGA title

Notably, Minjee Lee opted to shoot a birdie but miscalculated her shot and putted it 6 feet away from the hole despite having the advantage over Ko. The Aussie was 15 feet away, which was closer compared to Ko but still missed her chance. Ko seized the day by grabbing victory over the Founders Cup for the third time and ended up earning $450,000. 

Lee pointed out, “Obviously, I would’ve liked to have won, but looking back at my whole year and just kind of assessing where I am, how I did this week, I think a lot more positives than negatives.” Lee finished with the final score of 13-under par in the 72-hole tournament.

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Lee almost made her ninth win on the Tour, but Ko had her number. Ko won three Founders Cups in three separate courses. She made her first win in 2019 at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, and her second win in 2021 at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.  

The LPGA Winner pays her gratitude

The South Korean golfer took to her Instagram to pay her gratitude towards the lord and others. She posted a video from the playoff and captioned it, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength🥹

First of all Thank GOD i truly thank GOD you made this🥺.” 

She further thanked her fans by writing, “I am so very grateful. It is an honor to win the 3rd championship, and I am grateful to the many fans and volunteers who love women’s golf. See you again in New Jersey in two weeks!🫶🏻.”

Day by day, win by win, Ko is advancing towards her childhood dream of becoming a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. She is just seven points away from achieving her dream. She said, “My big goal is getting the Hall of Fame long time ago. I planned a long time ago … I will do my best in the future and practice hard, harder than this.” 

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