Lydia Ko claims first win since 2016 at LPGA Mediheal Championship

Lydia Ko ended a two-year winless run on the LPGA Tour with a dramatic play-off victory at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in California.

The former world No 1 posted a one-under 71 at Lake Merced Golf Club to join Minjee Lee at the top of the leaderboard on 12 under, before firing a stunning approach on the first sudden-death hole and converting a close-range eagle putt for victory.

Charley Hull finished three strokes back on eight under, with a two-under 70 seeing her share third spot alongside Shanshan Feng, Angel Yin and Jessica Korda.

Ko took a one-shot lead in to Sunday but bogeyed three of her opening six holes to open the door for the chasing pack, only to roll in a 10-footer at the seventh and add another birdie at the 10th.

The New Zealander bounced back from a bogey at the 11th by pitching in from off the 13th green and making a two-putt gain two holes later, as Lee matched the birdie at the 15th and holed out from a bunker at the 17th to reclaim a share of the advantage.

Lee - playing in the group ahead - birdied the last to set the clubhouse target at 12 under, only for Ko to almost hole her eagle chip on her way to a tap-in gain on the par-five to extend the contest.

The two players returned to the par-five 18th and Lee missed the green in two, as Ko almost holed her second shot to leave a two-foot putt for a first victory since July 2016.

LPGA Tour Golf