Golf: Lydia Ko off the pace at Women's Australian Open

Lydia Ko in action at the LPGA Australian Womens Open. Photo / Photosport

A new year, but probably the same result for Lydia Ko.

Through three rounds of her first tournament of 2018, Ko sits in a share of 12th at the Australian Open, looking likely to continue the pattern of 2017 – earning a solid finish, without victory.

Last year, Ko claimed 11 top 10 finishes, but couldn't quite crack the winners circle. Now, with a new coach and caddie combination, she remains one of the leading contenders on the LPGA Tour, but is no longer the runaway favourite as she was as a teenage tyro.

Still only 20 years old, she is still more likely than not to win a tournament this year, but it's unlikely to be at the Australian Open.

Ko shot a third round one-under 71 to stay steady on the leaderboard, mixing two birdies on either side of the turn with a bogey on 17. She is eight shots off the lead held by her namesake Jin-Young Ko, who – in another sign of Lydia's descend back to mere mortality – is threatening to become the best Ko on tour.

Jin-Young is on track for her second LPGA Tour win, to go with nine victories on the Korean Tour, leading by four shots at the Adelaide event. She also carded a 71 in her third round, holding her advantage ahead of Australia's Hannah Green.

While it would take a momentous collapse for Jin-Young to lose her lead, a slew of players are still in the hunt for a top finish, including Lydia Ko, who get back to her consistent top 10 contention with a strong final round.

Elsewhere, Danny Lee is set to miss the cut at the Genesis Open on the PGA Tour. Lee's rounds of 73 and 72 has put him at three over, one shot outside the projected cut line with a handful of players still yet to finish their second round.

On the European Tour, Josh Geary's poor run has continued. The first-time Tour member has failed to crack par in any of his last eight rounds, and missed a fourth consecutive cut with rounds of 80 and 74 at the Oman Open.

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