Lydia Ko Rewrites Personal Record Book With 60, But Ford Championship Far From Decided
The golf world witnessed something extraordinary Saturday at Seville Golf and Country Club, as Lydia Ko produced the lowest round of her Hall of Fame-caliber career - a 12-under 60 that catapulted her into the Ford Championship lead. Yet the tournament remains wide open, with golf's elite stars stacked tightly behind the two-time major champion in what promises to be a Sunday shootout.
Ko's third-round masterpiece featured 10 birdies and an eagle, her putter running white-hot as she attacked pins with surgical precision. The performance surpassed her previous career-low 61, achieved twice before, and nearly made her the first woman in LPGA history to break 60 in competition.
"I've never felt that kind of flow state before," said Ko, still visibly energized after her round. "When everything clicks like that, golf feels effortless."
The 26-year-old New Zealander's near-miss at history came on her 18th hole, where a 15-foot birdie attempt to card 59 lipped out. "Part of me is kicking myself," she admitted with a laugh, "but 60 is still pretty sweet."
Ko's resurgence continues to gain momentum in 2024. After enduring a two-year victory drought from 2021-2022, the former world No. 1 has rediscovered the form that made her the youngest ever to reach 23 LPGA wins. This season alone, she's recorded five top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the Tournament of Champions.
But the leaderboard reflects the LPGA's current golden era of competition. World No. 2 Nelly Korda, fresh off her victory at the Drive On Championship in January, matched Ko's firepower with a 63 of her own to sit just one stroke back.
"Lydia set the course on fire but we've got 18 holes left," said Korda, the Olympic gold medalist. "This is why we play - for battles like this."
The tournament's razor-thin margins mirror the LPGA's season-long narrative of dramatic finishes. Just last week, Hannah Green edged Celine Boutier by a single stroke at the HSBC Women's World Championship. Earlier this month, Patty Tavatanakit needed three playoff holes to claim victory in Thailand.
"The depth on tour is insane right now," noted Ko, who leads a top-10 separated by just five shots. "You can't coast for even one hole out here."
Among those within striking distance are 20-year-old phenom Rose Zhang, sitting three back in her first full LPGA season, and Lexi Thompson, the resurgent veteran who's four strokes off the pace. The 2014 Kraft Nabisco champion has shown flashes of her major-winning form this season after struggling through 2023.
Sunday's final round carries significant implications beyond the $2.25 million purse. With the LPGA's new season-long points race heating up, strong finishes could prove crucial in the chase for the season-ending CME Globe. Ko, who ended her winless streak at last year's CME Group Tour Championship, understands better than most how quickly fortunes can change.
The stage is set for a potential classic - a resurgent superstar holding off the tour's deepest field in years. As Korda put it: "This is what makes golf exciting. Someone's going to have to go out and earn it." With Ko's historic round now in the books, the question becomes whether anyone can produce an encore performance worthy of stealing the trophy.
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*Originally published on [golfnews.global](https://golfnews.global/article/lydia-ko-s-record-60-sparks-tight-ford-championship-finish).*
