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A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 april 2019
Jin Young Ko wins ANA Inspiration for first major title

By JOHN NICHOLSON ing a desert sweep after
AP Sports Writer taking the Founders Cup
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. two weeks ago in Phoenix.
(AP) — Jin Young Ko won She leads the money list
the ANA Inspiration for her and has five top-three fin-
first major title, celebrated ishes in six events this year.
with the traditional winner's Is she surprised by her start?
leap into Poppie's Pond "No, no, no," Ko said. "I had
and will jump to No. 1 in the really hard practice in win-
world ranking. ter training offseason in
The woman who said this Palm Springs."
year that her goal was to Ko gave caddie David
be the happiest player Brooker his third victory in
on the course was thrilled the event. The Englishman
about the first two. also leaped into Poppie's
"I still can't believe," Ko said. Pond with Grace Park in
"I'm really happy." 2004 and Lorena Ochoa in
She wasn't all that excited 2008.
about the No. 1 spot in the "He knows this course," Ko
world. said. "He helps me all the
"I just try to focus on my Jin Young Ko, center, of South Korea, leaps into the pond with caddie, David Brooker, left, and her time on the course. So re-
game on the course," Ko agent Soo Jin Choi, right, after winning the LPGA Tour ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission ally say thank you for my
said. "It doesn't matter Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Sunday, April 7, 2019. caddie."
about world ranking. I don't Associated Press She finished at 10-under
like numbers like No. 1 or 278.
No. 2. I'm just playing on the closed with a 2-under 70 in focus on my swing, on the nine stretch Saturday, al- Lee parred the final six
course." hot and mostly calm condi- putting. That's why I win this lowing In-Kyung Kim to cut holes in a 70.
She did that better than tions for a three-stroke vic- week." a five-stroke deficit to a sin- "This is really good momen-
anyone else over four tory over Mi Hyang Lee. After bogeys on 13 and 15 gle shot going into the final tum for me," said Lee, also
days on the Mission Hills "If ball goes right or left it cut her lead to a stroke, round. from South Korea. "I'm so
course made more difficult doesn't make me happy, Ko made a 6-foot birdie "Yesterday was a little bit happy with this week."
by thicker rough, tighter but I'm still trying to be putt on the par-4 16th and hard for me," Ko said. "I'm Ko had a three-stroke lead
fairways and some lon- happy," Ko said. "Also, I re- closed with a 15-foot birdie not robot. We are human." at the turn and faced little
ger holes. On Sunday, the ally try, don't think about putt on the par-5 18th. She Ko won for the fourth time pressure until stumbling with
23-year-old South Korean future, doesn't matter. Just also had a rough back- on the LPGA Tour, complet- the two bogeys. q

WNBA rebrands with new logo, eyes next generation of fans

By DOUG FEINBERG term growth strategy and rectangle around him, he’s
FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2018, identify new marketing op- in a box. Same with the
file photo, Seattle Storm's portunities. G-League logo and the
Breanna Stewart, right, is “We’ve engaged very, previous W-logo. She had
embraced by Sue Bird af- very closely throughout this a box around her,” Hedg-
ter the Storm defeated the process,” Hedgpeth said. peth said. “The box is go-
Phoenix Mercury 94-84 “Six months working with ing away. It’s powerful, it’s
during Game 5 of a WNBA Sylvain Labs to develop freeing and it’s expansive.”
basketball playoff semifi- what the new brand will It’s the first time the league
nal, in Seattle. The WNBA's stand for.” will have a new logo since
23rd season begins May 24, The two groups, along with 2013. While the new logo
with the Seattle Storm the player input, came up with won’t be on the uniforms
defending champion. (AP the league’s new logo. or balls until next year be-
Photo/Elaine Thompson, “They took the silhouette cause of the lack of pro-
File) out of the box which is a duction time needed to do
NEW YORK (AP) — The WN- In this Sept. 4, 2018, file photo, Seattle Storm's Breanna Stew- massive breakthrough as it, it will be everywhere else
art, right, is embraced by Sue Bird after the Storm defeated the
BA’s logo is getting a new Phoenix Mercury 94-84 during Game 5 of a WNBA basketball she was perceived totally around the league.
look and the league is re- playoff semifinal, in Seattle. different,” Hedgpeth said. Hedgpeth insisted that the
setting its brand for the up- Associated Press “She was free, there was logo wasn’t modeled after
coming season. more movement there, one player and that the
The league unveiled its our audience and grow at today.” taking up more space. hair was a huge part of the
plans Monday, intent on a faster rate. The WNBA’s 23rd season She’s more athletic, longer conversation. The logo has
embracing the optimism “We believe we’ll do that begins May 24, with the Se- physique. This is basketball a bun which represents the
of the women across the by becoming more and attle Storm the defending on our terms. That was a way many players wear
WNBA in building the next more culturally relevant champion. phrase that really resonat- their hair. The league also
generation of fans. over time. It led us to a new The league partnered with ed with the players. That’s has a new marquee part-
“We are excited about all target consumer, new de- Sylvain Labs, an innovation really symbolic in that re- ner in AT&T. “They are a
of it,” WNBA chief operat- sign target that’s much, and brand design consul- gard.” perfect fit,” Hedgpeth said.
ing officer Christy Hedg- much younger — the 16-to- tancy last year, to learn The new logo is different “They have such a great
peth said by phone last 34 millennials, who are very more about its existing fans from others affiliated with fit to diversity and inclusion
week. “It starts with our pur- diverse, very socially con- and potential new fans. the NBA. and accurately portraying
pose, which is to expand scious, engaged in issues of They developed a long- “The NBA logo, there’s a women in advertising.”q