Lydia Ko WINS the AIG Women's Open | Full Prize Presentation

good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and a very warm welcome to the prize presentation for the 2024 AIG Women's Open what a special week it has been here at the home of golf St Andrews we have seen some truly Sensational golf we have a very worthy Champion we've been treated to some traditional Scottish weather here this week and we've had some incredible support from you here in Scotland and everybody watching at home it has been absolutely delightful ladies and gentlemen I'd like to start by inviting John Clark chairman of the open championships committee to begin proceedings good afternoon everyone and thanks to so many of you for staying on to the end to cheer our champion I know all the players have really appreciated the support that you've given them during the week for many of these players this is the only tournament that they play during the year on a lynx course and for a lot of them it's their first time at the home of golf I think they've really enjoyed it they've given us some superb golf in incredibly testing conditions the old course is a wonderful venue at all times but even so I'd like to pay tribute to Sandy Reid and his greenkeeping team for giving us a course in such magnificent condition and allowing us us to play even in the strong winds that we've had of course a big thanks to all those who've made this Championship possible and in particular the army of volunteers who've given so much of their time up for this event all of this would not have been Poss possible without the support and growing commitment of our patrons partners and official suppliers and in AIG we have a title sponsor whose commitment has allowed the RNA to grow and develop the women's game they're a very powerful uh partner and Ally in our role here aig's continuing support has enabled us to take this Championship to new heights and has allowed us to deliver a far better experience for players and fans alike finally I'd like to thank you the fans for turning up in such numbers despite the weather and showing such great support for these wonderful players I hope that you'll go home and tell all your friends what a wonderful event this is and encourage them to come and support us next year at Royal por cor you'll be glad to know that's all from me and now I'll hand you over to Martin Slumbers the chief executive of the RNA who will announce the Prize winners and to Peter saino the CEO and chairman of AIG who will present the championship trophy thank you thank you John may I ask Ona binci Deputy chair of the rna's Open Championship committee to step forward ladies and gentlemen with a score of 287 the leading amateur and winner winner of the Smith Salva is lty w [Applause] right leg may I now ask Peter Cino chairman and CEO of AIG to step forward with a score of 281 the winner of the gold medal and the 2024 AIG Women's Open Champion is Lydia Co [Applause] Lydia Co many many many congratulations you have won your third major championship here at the home of golf what are the emotions right now um it's pretty surreal uh you know winning the gold medal in Paris a couple weeks ago it was almost too good to be true and obviously heading into the weekend I was in contention and I said how is it possible for me to win the AIG woman's open you know I've had the most Cinderella likee Story this past uh few weeks and this is almost too good to be true and of all the major championships um I think this one I had the least amount of confidence um just because I haven't had as much experience playing on lyns and just you know the results didn't follow either um but yeah you know to be holding this trophy right now it's I can't believe it and obviously very special especially with my family being here uh this week too how did you keep the emotions in check the walk over the will can Bridge the World Cup 18 with basically history on the line I think um you know like I said you know what happened these past couple weeks I was like you know what it's not going to happen um so don't get uh you know uh don't overreact uh just try and focus on the shout in front of you and you know my I had two goals going into today par making a par on 11 and Birdie the 18th and I accomplished both um so I was just more excited that you know I had those two small wins for the day um but yeah you know it's a special place I was fortunate enough to play here as an amiter in 2013 When Stacy won and no I would have never met that 11 years later I would be uh in her shoes and especially with Stacy being somebody that I really respect and um you know I really look up to it's I think this makes it extra special where would you say this one ranks the Olympic gold medal in the summer the pre the previous two major championships and now this where does this one sit it's kind of like saying do you like your mother better or your father better um uh it's uh you know they uh old special in its own ways I said you know even the silver and the bronze uh were some of the biggest highlights of my career and um before you know I don't know when uh you know I'm going to retire but I said before then I would love to win another major championship and that was my goal that ID set with my coaches and you know here I am uh as you know a three-time major champion and it's it's so surreal um and yeah I'm I'm just excited uh and and you know I I'm not really sure if it has sunken yet but very grateful listen some tough conditions this week we know the sun is shining right now it is absolutely beautiful here at the home of golf but it has not been easy it's been cold it's been windy how much did you really embrace all the links true Scottish conditions that we've seen this week I think I just had a lot of fun and it was almost so windy that I mean um that I hit some shots and all I could do was laugh cuz I've never seen a ball react that way um you know it was difficult but you know going into the week I think all of us players knew that it was going to be tough out there um that's why it's you know huge uh Round of Applause to the team here um the superintendent for making the course playable because it was so windy that it could have easily not been that case um so yeah it's um I'm winded out but I've actually got a golf trip next weekend and it's meant to be windy there too so at least I'm ready uh for for next week too listen final question final word on the support you've received here this week in Scotland and I'm sure you just like to say a big thank you to our wonderful sponsor AIG to the RNA everybody involved in in putting this Championship on to the highest quality that we've witnessed over the last few days yeah um you know first off I would like to thank the AIG for your immense support I think because of Partners like you know women's golf has continuously grown and I've been fortunate enough to play this Championship since you guys you know taken over and it has been elevated year by year you know we've gone to some of the most uh you know amazing rotation of courses uh in the UK so yeah you know very grateful for your support um thank you to the RNA um for hosting this incredible major championship um without an organization like them uh this tournament would not be possible and obviously thank you to all the volunteers that are trying to find out find out balls in the Fescue and know being out there with us at 7 7 in the morning for our early tea times know really appreciate you know all your help and thank you to the fans um I don't know if it's because I'm from New Zealand and we're a commonwealth country um I've gotten a lot of support here you know especially walking down these final stretch of holes um and I feel very honored to be uh the AIG wom's open Champion for 2024 and uh my final thank you is to my family and team that are have been with me this whole journey uh my sister actually said that she cried so much in Paris she's got no tears to shed anymore um so no I I appreciate you guys and um this is for all of us thank you Lydia Co you are a class act on and off the golf course many many congratulations as I hand it back to Martin ladies and gentlemen thank you very much indeed for staying on what has been a very exciting day for golf and we look forward to seeing you all next year at Ro Paul call travel home safely take care [Applause]