Everything Lydia Ko touches turns to gold.

The New Zealander was calmness personified as she cut through the field on her way to glory at St Andrews.

Four under-par rounds ensured the Olympic champion was always in contention at the AIG Women’s Open, but she let world number one Nelly Korda, defending Champion Lilia Vu and a resurgent two-time winner Jiyai Shin grab the headlines as she waited patiently in the wings.

And when her opportunity arrived, she was ready.

A round of 70 sandwiched in between two 71s had left Ko three strokes off the lead at the start of play on Sunday. Birdies at 4, 10 and 14 pulled her into the heat of battle alongside Korda, Vu and Shin. A dropped shot on 15 temporarily halted her momentum, but a nerveless birdie putt on 18 gave her a one-stroke lead when it mattered most.

Korda stumbled in behind and Vu, who won so magnificently at Walton Heath 12 months ago, was unable to pick up a birdie on either of the final two holes that would have ensured a play-off.