26 Jan 2024

Ko on top in LPGA, Fox misses cut in PGA

1:43 pm on 26 January 2024
Lydia Ko.

Lydia Ko Photo: Photosport

Lydia Ko's top form on the LPGA tour has continued.

Fresh from her win at the season opening Tournament in Champions last weekend, Ko shares the lead after the first round of the Drive On championship also in Florida.

Ko and American Nelly Korda both fired six-under par 65s.

They have a one shot lead over Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark.

Korda, a Bradenton native, is seeking her first LPGA victory since November 2022, while Ko could win her third straight outing.

"Definitely nice to be able to win the first event of the year, especially because you don't have anything really to reference your round off or your game," Ko said.

"Grant Thornton was only five weeks ago, but that's a completely different format, and so wasn't like I was coming in with a ton of like really good momentum.

"But just trying to feed off what was going well last week, and overall I thought I played really solid."

Ko's round included six birdies.

Last weekend's victory was the 20th of Ko's LPGA career and she needs just one more win to be eligible for the tour's Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile Ryan Fox's start to the year has not gone as well.

Fox has missed the cut in his debut as a full PGA Tour member.

He finished the second round of the Farmers Insurance Championship in San Diego tied for 100th, 11 shots from the leader.

Fox earned his PGA card by finishing in the top ten on the World Tour last year.

-RNZ/Reuters