Still battling a wrist injury that derailed her 2022 season, Ko burst into tears after her triumphant return at Sentosa as she finished with a 17-under-par total of 271, taking home the $US270,000 ($A400,000) first prize.

“It's a great honour to defend this title again, and this week was too long for me but too great, so I'm so happy,” Ko said.

Ko was unflappable on the front nine and although she faltered with a bogey on the 11th, she sank a 30-foot putt for birdie on the 13th and a two-foot par putt on the final hole to edge American Korda by two shots.

“It's always hard to play with Nelly, especially on Sunday,” Ko said of her head-to-head battle with her fellow former World No.1.

“We've been playing together yesterday, and today was second time. We had a lot of times to play in 2021. She hits farther than last year, I think. So I don't look at her ball. I didn't look at her ball or her playing. It's hard but love to compete with Nelly.”

And then I thought, Nelly is a good player, so I just wanted to learn something from her.

Korda drained a four-foot birdie putt for a 69 and second place on 15-under, finishing a stroke ahead of Japan's Ayaka Furue (67) and compatriots Danielle Kang (68) and Allisen Corpuz (69), who tied for third on 14-under.

Hannah Green carded a one-under 71 to finish 10 shots behind Ko in a tie for 20th to be the best-placed Australian.

Compatriot Minjee Lee was in a tie for 52nd after a final round 74.