Lydia Ko (Pro V1x) hit the tournament-deciding shot Sunday in Naples at the Grant Thornton Invitational to help her team claim the PGA TOUR & LPGA’s inaugural mixed team event.
Tied for the lead on the par-5 17th, Ko took aim and launched her fairway wood approach directly at the flagstick.
Ko’s Pro V1x landed just in front of the hole and came to rest about 10 feet from the cup, setting up a stress-free, two-putt birdie to get to 26 under and break the deadlock.
“I don’t think I could have hit that shot 100 times and it would turn out better,” Ko said. “I’m glad that I was able to kind of commit to my swing, and I think that kind of shows all the time and effort I’ve been working on my ball-striking. I was able to pull it off in the moment where it really was needed.”
WINNING TEAM GAMES VOKEY WEDGES
The winners of the Grant Thornton Invitational had a total of seven Vokey Design wedges in their bags this week in Naples. The 2015 PGA Champion gamed Vokey Design SM9 52.08F, 56.10S and WedgeWorks 60T wedges, while the two-time women’s major champion played SM9 46.10F, 48.10F, 54.10S and 58.08M models. She also gamed a Scotty Cameron P5 CS tour prototype putter.
ÅBERG MOVES TO NEW T100 IRONS
Titleist Brand Ambassador Ludvig Åberg made the move to NEW T100 irons, putting a set of 4-P irons in play for the first time this week at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
Åberg, who had been gaming a set of prior generation T100’s, first tested the new models a week ago with J.J. Van Wezenbeeck, Titleist Director of Player Promotions. During testing, the 24-year-old told Van Wezenbeeck he loved the look of the new models and how they felt through the turf. He was also able to gain greater control, by eliminating excessive spin in his short irons while maintaining the necessary spin in his long irons.
Åberg and his partner this week combined for a final round best-ball score of 60 (12 under) and a 24-under total to finish 3rd.