30 May 2016

NZ golfers fail to trouble leaders

1:59 pm on 30 May 2016

Lydia Ko has finished in a tie for 16th at the latest LPGA golf event in Michigan, with Danny Lee also off the pace at the latest PGA tour event in Texas

Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko Photo: Photosport

The world number one Ko carded a final round two under par 70 to finish on four under, 11 shots behind the winner Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn.

Fellow New Zealander Danny Lee finished on four under and tied for 22nd, 13 shots behind the winner American Jordan Spieth.

Danny Lee

Danny Lee Photo: Photosport

Spieth displayed a brilliant short game to win the Colonial tournament by three strokes in Fort Worth.

Spieth posted his eighth victory on the PGA Tour, and his first in his home state, in the process passing a Tiger Woods mark.

Jordan Spieth.

Jordan Spieth. Photo: Photosport

Only Horton Smith (14) won more tour events by the age of 22 or younger.

Woods won seven by the same age.

Spieth reached the mark in emphatic fashion with a closing 65 to finish at 17-under-par 263.

He curled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole and went even better by chipping in from 40 feet for another birdie at the 17th.

With victory assured, he knocked in a 35-foot birdie putt for good measure at the final hole.

-Reuters/RNZ