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LPGA: Lydia Ko v Ariya Jutanugarn – Mythical Shootout Deferred

By Elizabeth Bethel

Nov 17, 2016; Naples, FL, USA; The top three ranked players in the world Lydia Ko (left) and Brooke Henderson (middle) and Ariya Jutanugarn (right) prepare to tee off during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Luke Franke/Naples Daily News via USA TODAY NETWORK
Nov 17, 2016; Naples, FL, USA; The top three ranked players in the world Lydia Ko (left) and Brooke Henderson (middle) and Ariya Jutanugarn (right) prepare to tee off during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Luke Franke/Naples Daily News via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn are positioned to thrill LPGA fans with a head-to-head shootout for a Major title.

LPGA stars Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn are running neck-in-neck in the world rankings. Like every other women’s golf fan I’m sitting on the edge of my seat as I anticipate an inevitable head-to-head battle between these two amazing young athletes.

The dynamic duo have disappointed me three times already and it’s only March.

Their first opportunity came at the Women’s Australian Open. Jutanugarn was ready for it, but Ko, making her first 2017 season start, looked worn out from, or distracted by her extracurricular activities and finished a disappointing T46. (She was probably grateful to make the cut.)

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The pair went on to Honda LPGA Thailand, where they took a back seat to Amy Yang. Well, every took a back seat to Amy Yang in Thailand, who finished the tournament at an eyepopping 22-under par, five shots ahead of the chasing pack.

I had hoped again for the head-to-head battle for the top of the board. It almost happened. KIo and Jutanugarn finished sharing T8. Maybe it was a warm-up for something later in the season.

Comparing Their Games

Let’s compare the games they delivered in Thailand.

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First, their long games: Off the tee, Ko hit 84% of the fairways but Jutanugarn hit only 70% of the fairways. Not to worry, Airya fans. Even with her 3-wood, Ariya can outdrive just about everybody on the Tour. Ko averaged  254 yards off the tee while Jutanugarn averaged a little over 260 yards. Is that six yard difference going to make a critical difference? Probably not.

Take a look at their short games: Ko got to 74% of the greens in regulation while Ariya, who really had her short irons dialed in, got to 83% of the greens in regulation. Once on the green, Ko averaged 29 putts per round while Ariya was a bit higher, averaging 31 putts per round.

So Ariya needs to tighten up her accuracy off the tee – that will keep her out of trouble and in the long run get her to the putting surface even faster than she already gets there. And Ko needs to sharpen her work with her short irons.

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They both need some putting practice if they hope to get close to Stephanie Meadow’s 25.75 putts per round average that leads the Tour right now.

But to finish up the spring Asia Swing, Ariya recorded a runner-up and Ko another top-10 at the HSBC Women’s Champions.

Ariya must have gotten my message. She reduced her putting average to 28.75 putts per round, with a stunning 26 putts in her final round. Ko was still struggling to get her game dialed in.

Will the Founders Cup bring that long-awaited, much anticipated head-to-head battle for the win, or are they saving the drama for when it counts in a big way, at The Dinah?

When it finally comes it’s going to epic!

Next: 2017 LPGA Rookies to Watch

With the Tour back in the continental US, Golf Channel coverage is more reasonable: 1st and 2nd rounds, Thursday, March 16 & Friday, March 17, 6-9pm; 3rd & 4th rounds, Saturday, March 18 & Sunday, March 19, 7-9pm, all times ET.

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