Golf: Ko finishes well off pace

Lydia Ko. Photo / AP

New Zealand's Lydia Ko has finished well off the pace at the opening major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California.

The 16-year-old carded a final round two-over 74 to finish at two-over for the tournament, 16 shots behind American winner Lexi Thompson. The World No.4, who was trying to become the youngest major champion in history, carded rounds of 73, 70, 73 and 74.

That left Ko in a share of 29th place in her first major as a professional. She finished in 25th as an amateur at the event last year.

Thompson who won her first major title by three shots from compatriot Michelle Wie

Ko struggled with her ball striking in the year's opening major. She managed to hit only 36 from 56 fairways and 45 from 72 greens in regulation in the tough championship conditions.

Ko's best finish in a major championship remains her runner-up finish to Norway's Suzann Pettersen in the Evian Championship last year in France. It was the closest a New Zealand woman has come to winning a major golf title.

This year, in her debut season on the LPGA Tour, the former World No.1 amateur has finished inside the top 10 on three occasions including a tie for second at the JBTC Founders Cup and a tie for third at the Australian Open.