Lydia Ko found herself firmly in contention at the LPGA’s Palos Verdes Championship Sunday afternoon. She was in chase mode on the back nine as she attempted to catch eventual winner Marina Alex.
However, there was a problem. In the midst of her quest for LPGA win No. 18, TV cameras showed Ko laid out on the turf being stretched out by a physical therapist. It was hardly a heartening sight for those rooting on the 25-year-old to nab a win in Los Angeles.
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Luckily, the mysterious ailment never became severe enough to seriously hinder Ko on the finishing stretch as she played the inward nine even par, good for a final-round 70 that left her two behind Alex.
After the round, Golf Channel‘s Jerry Foltz caught up with Ko and asked her about the scene with the trainer from the course. Ko didn’t tip toe around what had been bothering her.
“It’s that time of the month,” Ko said. “I know the ladies watching are probably like, ‘Yeah, I got you.’ So, when that happens my back gets really tight and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted. I felt a lot better after he came.”
Ko’s candor left Foltz — quite literally — speechless.
“Uhh … thanks,” Foltz said as Ko laughed.
“I know you’re lost for words, Jerry,” she said. “Honesty it is.”