Lydia Ko fends off Danielle Kang to win Gainbridge LPGA

Lydia Ko outlasted Danielle Kang to win the Gainbridge LPGA in Florida by one stroke thanks to a right-to-left birdie putt on the 15th hole.

Ko shot a three-under-par final round of 69 to finish one shot ahead of Kang on 14 under par.

Leona Maguire finished tied for 27th on one under par after a final-round 73 with fellow Irishwoman Stephanie Meadow tied for 57th on five over.

Ko held at least a share of the lead after every round at Boca Rio Golf Cluben route to securing her 17th LPGA Tour victory.

She entered Sunday's round with a two-shot advantage over Kang, but the American took the lead with birdies on the 11th and 12th before giving it back with a costly bogey at the par-three 13th.

Kang shot a four-under 68 to earn second place.

Japan's Yuka Saso tied the low round of the day with a 67 that helped her place third at 12 under. England's Charley Hull (68) and France's Celine Boutier (69) tied for fourth at 11 under.

Kang kickstarted her round with birdies at the first and third holes while Ko played the front nine in even par, tying the playing partners at 11 under.

They both birdied the par-four 11th before Kang drained a lengthy birdie putt on the 12th for the outright lead.

But a missed par putt on the next hole meant that Kang's advantage was short-lived. Ko saved par there before making the go-ahead birdie putt at the 15th.

She also escaped danger at the par-three 17th hole, saving par when she hit out of the greenside bunker to mere inches from the cup.

Kang, 29, was vying to win her second event in as many weeks. She was victorious at last week's Tournament of Champions to kick off the 2022 tour schedule.