Her collection is now complete. Besting the field at Le Golf National, Lydia Ko claimed a two-stroke victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics and grabbed her long-awaited gold medal. The New Zealander finished the competition at 10 under ahead of silver medalist Esther Henseleit of Germany at 8 under and bronze medalist Xiyu Lin of China at 7 under.
With her trip to the top of the podium, Ko now possesses a gold medal from this year's games, a silver medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Entering the competition as the only golfer -- male or female -- to hold multiple Olympic medals, Ko is now the first to hold three.
Not only can Ko call herself the most decorated Olympic golfer in the history of the Summer Games, but she's also qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame -- all of this at the ripe age of 27 years old. Arriving in Paris one point short of the 27-point threshold required for entrance, Ko's gold medal is enough to put her over the edge.
Her 27 points consist of 18 LPGA Tour victories (18 points), two major championships (4), two Vare Trophies (2), two LPGA Player of the Year honors (2) and an Olympic gold medal (1).
Beginning the day in a share of the lead with Switzerland's Morgane Metraux, Ko got off to an uneasy start making bogey on the opening hole. Despite the dropped shot, she walked off the second green with her name alone atop the leaderboard as Metraux's nerves were apparent early and often.
Ko found her stride soon after as birdies on the two par 5s on the front nine sandwiched another on the par-4 7th where she connected from outside 45 feet to put an unlikely circle on her scorecard. With her playing competitors Metraux and the United States' Rose Zhang both failing to break 40 on the front nine, Ko's advantage ballooned to as many as five.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024Lydia Ko takes a two-shot lead with a LONG range birdie putt! 🇳🇿😳
📺 Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympicspic.twitter.com/Ic6sMOPBuD
A trio of pars to begin her back nine maintained her margin before adversity arrived on the par-4 13th. Hitting her approach into the water hazard protecting the putting surface, Ko yielded two strokes back and gave her counterparts hope that a crack in the door may be opening.
Henseleit marched towards the light and posted a total for Ko to ponder as she shortened the lead to as little as one. The German made birdie on her final two holes to sign for a final-round 66 and grab the clubhouse lead at 8 under. Lin had eyes on the same number, but a bogey on No. 17 made it so a closing birdie was instead for bronze.
Ko's quest for gold remained in her hands as she steadied the ship with a hefty diet of pars and stepped to the 18th tee still one in front. Finding the fairway and choosing to lay up, Ko faced a wedge shot over water to seal the deal. Finding the green under immense pressure, Ko needed just one putt to find gold and close out her Olmypic medal trifecta.
2024 Olympic medalists
Silver — Esther Henseleit (Germany): Standing at 1 over heading into the second half of the competition, Henseleit had a 36-hole run to remember. A third-round 69 gave her an outside chance at a medal before a fast start to her final round put her firmly in position. Turning in 4 under, the 25-year-old exchanged a birdie with a bogey early in her back nine before finishing in a flurry. A birdie on the difficult par-4 17th set the stage for an eagle opportunity on the closing par 5, which would have pulled her even with Ko. Leaving it low, Henseleit instead settled for silver and Germany's first Olympic medal in golf.
Bronze — Xiyu Lin (China): The only player to break par in every round, Lin's steadiness allowed her to grab the bronze medal. Entering the day at 4 under, Lin plodded her way around Le Golf National before an explosion of birdies to end. Throwing three circles on her scorecard in her final four holes, the 28-year-old clipped a cluster of competitors occupied at 6 under. It marks China's second bronze medal in the last three Olympics.
Notable finishers
Rose Zhang (United States): Zhang improved gradually with rounds of 72-70-67 to put herself in the final threesome on Saturday. She climbed within one stroke of the gold medal position early in the final round before the wheels started to come off. Playing her final six holes on the front nine in 4 over, she turned in 40 and was unable to recover from there. Despite falling short, Zhang's Olympic debut marks another impressive first for the 21-year-old.
Nelly Korda (United States):The reigning gold medalist failed to break 70 this week as the big number hindered her chances to go back-to-back. Carding 19 birdies in her competition, Korda offset this total with 11 bogeys, a triple bogey and a quadruple bogey. The last of the two sevens came at the most inopportune time as she stood in the fairway on No. 15 at 5 under and with a chance to still lay claim to the final podium spot. Dunking her approach into the water, the American put seven on the scorecard before another bogey on No. 17 put the finishing touches on a back-nine 40.
Celine Boutier (France): An opening 65 put Boutier on the number which would have ultimately gotten her in a playoff for the bronze medal. Unfortunately, the Frenchwoman went around Le Golf National in 11 more strokes on Thursday to relinquish her lead. Unable to threaten the final day, Boutier can look at a stretch of holes on the back nine where her competition went awry. Playing Nos. 13-15 in 2 under in Round 1, Boutier played those same holes in an 11-over fashion the last three rounds.
