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Pettersen closes strong to capture LPGA championship
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: Havre de Grace, Md.
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Havre de Grace, Md. (Map, News) - Standing in the 15th fairway, 230 yards from the green, with a two-stroke lead in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, Suzann Pettersen had the biggest decision of her golf career.
Would she make the safe play and lay up to the fairway? Or would she go for the green, trying to seize her first major title, but also increasing the risk of reliving a major championship nightmare?
Two months ago at the Kraft Nabisco, Petterson had a four-shot lead on the 15th tee. But played the last four holes in four-over-par. Same deal. Same hole. Smaller lead.
But this time Pettersen closed the deal in aggressive fashion. She ripped a 3-wood to the front of the green, made a two-putt birdie, then held off Australian Karrie Webb and South Korean Na On Min to win her first major title.
Pettersen (69-67-71-67 – 274) claimed the first-place check of $300,000, beating Webb (68-69-71-67 – 275) by a stroke and Min (71-70-65-70 – 276) by two.
“It’s a major. I haven’t realized it yet,” said Pettersen, who is from Norway. “Every shot came off as I thought ... Experience does help.”
Pettersen, 26, needed every bit of her experience, aggression and precision to vanquish Webb, who made birdies on the last two holes, and her playing partner, Min, who strung together four straight birdies on the back nine.
“I made Suzann think about it on the last, which is all I could ask for,” said Webb, who finished second at Bulle Rock for the second straight year in pursuit of her eighth major title.
Meanwhile, Min, 18, was in position to make a fifth straight birdie when she hit her tee shot on the 171-yard 17th inside Pettersen’s. But after Pettersen dropped her 17-foot birdie try, Min, facing a similar line, missed her 12-footer to fall two shots back in just her sixth LPGA tournament.
It was a tale of two nines for Min, who strung together four straight bogeys on the front side.
“Suzann is really great player,” said Min. “She hits it long and she just keeps trying to play. She’s a very strong player.”
Strong indeed. Pettersen’s victory had much to do with her overpowering the par fives. In four days, Pettersen made nine birdies and an eagle, playing Bulle Rock’s four par fives in 9-under.
Pettersen’s victory also came using a putter given to her by a partner in Wednesday’s pro-am. She used it to make birdie putts of six and eight feet on Nos. 10 and 13, setting up her impressive finish.
“It shows a lot of courage and guts and trust in her ability,” said Webb. “I’ve played with her since she was 18 or 19 in Australia and was just oozing with talent at the time ... She’s been an underachiever for a long time.”
But now she’s an LPGA major champion.
MAJOR TRIUMPH
» It was the second victory on the LPGA Tour for Pettersen. She also won at Kingsmill last month.
» Pettersen was out of action for eight months in 2005 after suffering a ruptured disc.
» Before this season, Pettersen had not finished in the top 10 in 15 LPGA majors.
Comments from Examiner Readers
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Examiner Reader said:
Awesome article. I totally agree. I took a vacation day to watch the Open on Monday. Tiger needs to come back! Thanks for great writing.
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Bronwen Iuen said:
Does anyone know anything about Kevin Dunleavy? If he's from Texas and about 29 then I think I was friends with him in high school (Klein). If anyone would know how to get in touch with him, that would be great. I tried calling but the lady I talked to didn't know anything about him. bronwen.iuen@gmail.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Mr.Dunleavy-A Baltimore boy, Church Waesche, won the 16-17 division of the Gorin on his 16th birthday and was the runner up in the Bobby Bowers last week. Any reason you continue to focus on the Washington region golfers instead of the Baltimore boys?
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grp of marin said:
Michelle should just be Michelle. A pro golfer and a college student. Break away from parental, sponsor, present managment domination and what the LPGA wants. Find her groove make her own decisions and RELAX! At 17 going on to 18 you are considered a young adult. It's time to break away from the nest and feel the air flutter her wings.
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Examiner Reader said:
even if she is going thru some swing changes can't she at least dress like a professional she looks like something from sex in the city, or a three old dressing up out of her mother's closet. some one help her please......
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Kelkyen said:
Did the rich people remember to have the cops in Aberdeen and HdG warn the bums and crackheads along route 40 to stay away?
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