New Zealand's Lydia Ko becomes youngest world number one golfer
17-year-old is youngest player of either gender to climb to world No 1, easily beating record set by Tiger Woods
With a notable double prize not only within reach, but practically in her grip, New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko had to settle for half of the spoils - though it represented a significant piece of golf history, nonetheless.
After reclaiming the lead late in the final round, the 17-year-old Ko double bogeyed the 71st hole in the inaugural Coates Golf Championship to lose by a shot to Choi Na-yeon.
However, the transplanted New Zealander became the youngest player of either gender to climb to world No 1, breaking the record set by Tiger Woods by almost four years.
As the ramifications of the distinction finally took hold, the sting of defeat at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club wasn't quite so bad. The notion of celebrating, which first set her back for a moment, didn't seem so crazy after all.
"It's going to be good," Ko said. "I was here to focus on the tournament itself, but I guess I got a great outcome at the end of the day, too."
After leading by as many as four shots on the front nine, Ko trailed Choi by a shot as they played the par-three 15th. With Choi facing a six-footer for birdie, Ko holed an improbable 60-footer and Choi promptly three-putted for a two-shot swing.
The teenager's lead did not last long. Ko drove into a fairway bunker, then fanned a hybrid shot into a stand of pine trees down the right side of the 17th hole, scrambling for double bogey.
