Jin Young Ko Wins Founders Cup After Minjee Lee’s Shocking Three-Putt in Playoff

A surprising result in sudden death led to Ko’s 15th LPGA victory.

Windy conditions at the challenging Upper Montclair Country Club did not hold back Jin Young Ko, who rallied from a four-shot deficit to prevail at the LPGA’s Cognizant Founders Cup in a sudden-death playoff against Minjee Lee. 

“I play really, really good today. It’s too windy, was too windy out there, so I thought if I play really well I could (have a) chance to win,” Ko said. “So I really focus myself and focus on my shot. … Just don’t think about the other players.”

Lee, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open victor and Founders Cup defending champion, had a three-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round, but she left an opening for others early in the round with a double bogey at the par-3 6th. 

Meanwhile, Ko had a stellar opening nine, posting a 3-under 33. Lee rallied from the blunder, making four birdies in her next nine holes, but saw another dropped shot at the par-4 16th. 

Ko—now a three-time champion at the New Jersey event—maintained her bogey-free scorecard and fired off two more birdies, including one at the short par-4 18th. She sunk a 15-foot downhill putt to tie Lee’s lead. 

JIN YOUNG KO!

She birdies the 18th to tie the lead!!! pic.twitter.com/hOnYNUqoCv

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 14, 2023

The one-hole playoff between Ko and Lee did not lack drama, as the two players—ranked third and sixth in the world—headed back to the 18th tee. 

Both Ko and Lee hit the green, but Lee was roughly 15 feet inside of the two-time major champion. 

Ko lagged her birdie attempt to tap-in territory. Lee then stepped up to her shorter putt and blew it by the hole by six feet. She then missed the comeback putt, giving Ko her 15th win on the LPGA Tour. 

“Minjee had chance to make birdie, but, yeah, I was little luckier than her,” Ko said. 

Despite the disappointing finish, Lee explained that she’ll focus on the positive trends she saw in her game during just her fifth start in 2023 and take those into the rest of her LPGA season. 

“I mean, yes obviously I would've liked to have won, but looking back at my whole year and just kind of assessing where I am, how I did this week, I think a lot more positives than negatives,” Lee said. “Obviously I'm a little bit disappointed, but I think I can take more of the happy moments into my next—into the next stretch of events and the rest of the year.

“So I’m not totally unhappy, but obviously I would’ve liked a better result.”

The 2022 AIG Women’s British Open champion, Ashleigh Buhai, finished in solo third place at 10 under, and Hae Ran Ryu followed for a solo fourth-place finish at 8 under.