Fifteen-time LPGA Tour winner Jin Young Ko gave it her all on Sunday at the FM Championship, but she ultimately came up just short of her 16th career title after falling to her fellow Republic of Korea native Haeran Ryu in a one-hole playoff at TPC Boston.
Ko began the final round with a two-shot lead over Lauren Coughlin, and after posting a 4-under 68 that saw her make two bogeys, two birdies and two eagles, the 29-year-old found herself in a tie with Ryu, who had also finished at 15-under after 72 holes.
With a champion still needing to be decided, Ko and Ryu headed back to the par-5 18th hole for a playoff at TPC Boston. And when Ko couldn’t match her younger counterpart’s par on the first extra hole, ultimately making a bogey, it was Ryu who emerged victorious in Norton, Mass., becoming the first winner of the inaugural FM Championship.
But while the final result was disappointing for Ko, she was pleased with her overall performance this week just outside of Boston and was proud of herself for bouncing back from what was a frustrating showing at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews the week prior.
“I was so disappointed from last week,” said Ko, who posted rounds of 76 and 78 at the Old Course. “I really, really wanted to play on the weekend with a great golf course, but I missed the cut, and I watched the other players play. My confidence (was) really, really low after last week. I could miss the cut this week, as well.
“But who knows? Golf is this. I missed the cut last week. (Then) I finished second, almost win. I will take a lot of good positive things from this week in Boston.”
The FM Championship was Ko’s 14th event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, and her runner-up showing is her sixth top-10 result of the year. It’s also her third time finishing in the top five in 2024, as the former Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 tied for fourth at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and then tied for second at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee.
Even though a victory this season has continued to elude her, Ko is playing some incredibly consistent golf this year, a fact that was further evidenced by her strong finish at TPC Boston this week and something in which she can take solace as Ko looks ahead to two weeks off before her next scheduled start at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
“I played really, really good this week,” Ko said. “Unfortunately, the last shot wasn't good, and I (lost). But overall, I played really solid, and congrats to Haeran. Maybe next time I will have a chance to win maybe.”
With that in mind, Ko has a few different things she will be working on in her game over the next 14 days in an effort to ready herself for another shot at victory lane at TPC River’s Bend just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. But there were a couple of good decisions Ko felt she made this week that she likely won’t tinker with too much as she eyes her next LPGA Tour start in the Buckeye State.
“I hit just four or five fairways today, so I think I need to practice tee shots with pressure,” said Ko when asked what her off weeks would consist of. “Putting was so nice. I think I made a good decision to change my putter this week, and also, I changed the type of ball this week. I think it's pretty good.”
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