Cook Islands’ Meti wins World Long Drive Championship again

Cook Islands and New Zealand golfer Phyllis Metti has won the 2024 World Long Drive Championship in the United States for the fifth time in her illustrious career.

Metty currently ranks second in history, having won the world championship five times in 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024.

The World Long Drive (WLD) is the ultimate all-out competition to see who can hit the golf ball the farthest and outshine their opponent. The World Championship is Meti’s first win of 2024.

Metty, the No. 2 player in the world and the record holder for longest driving distance by a woman (414 yards), was the top seed heading into the final day of bracket play at Hawks Landing Country Club in Atlanta.

She opened with a quarterfinal win over Jeanine Minnick, 339 to 323. The next round was a rematch of the 2023 WLD Championship final; Metty defeated 2023 World Champion Monica Lieving, 316 to 313.

Mai then defeated Mai Dechathipat in the final round with a 310-yard drive to take the championship belt. Dechathipat had set the longest drive record in the women’s category on Sunday with a 354-yard drive.

In this tournament, Metty’s longest drive was 339 yards and his average drive was 314 yards.

Metty is of Cook Island descent, was born and raised in Auckland, and currently lives in Atlanta.

The 36-year-old told reporters before the event that she smelled the gardenia, a flower that is special to the people of the Cook Islands, for the last time.

“(It) reminds me of my dad and my grandparents who have passed away, and I was thinking about them the entire time I was putting the car on the track and finishing the race.”

Metty said it was special to see family and friends in the crowd and to see the New Zealand flag.

“We just came off the Olympics and it was amazing to see Lydia Ko win the gold medal, so it’s just fitting for me to be able to do this and have my family here flying the flag, and it means everything to me.

“I’ve had a team following me for the past few years since I came to Atlanta, and I have nothing but good things to say right now about being able to do this job this time around.”

Metty said she was looking forward to driving to the parking lot to celebrate the victory.