Miyazato breaks through at Evian
BY Bruce Young | Ladies European Tour | 2009 Evian Masters | Round Four | 27 Jul 2009
Japan’s Ai Miyazato today finally broke through for her first LPGA Tour title after holing a short birdie putt at the first extra hole to defeat Sweden Sophie Gustafson and win the Evian Masters title.
The pair had traded blows for much of the day until Miyazato landed the killer punch with a fine up and down from the sand at the first extra hole. Both had birdied the par five 18th hole in regulation play to edge ahead of Cristie Kerr and Meena Lee.
Miyazato first joined the LPGA Tour in 2006 after a prolific career on the Japan Ladies Tour but the expected immediate onslaught of victories on the LPGA Tour for the 24-year-old did not eventuate.
She has played well enough, recording several top threes including a runner up finish at the HSBC Matchplay in 2007 but the all important breakthrough had been avoiding her.
She now has that behind her and perhaps with the weight of expectation now gone the floodgates will open for the outstanding talent from Okinawa.
“I feel very happy at the moment,” said the 24-year-old Miyazato after earning $487,500 of the US$3.25 million purse. “I was dreaming about this when I was young, so my dream has almost come true.”
It could well have been a red letter day for Japan. Yuko Mitsuka, the number four on the Japan Ladies Golf Tour’s money list, led through the turn on day four but four dropped shots in three holes in her back nine cost her any chance of making it an even greater day for Japan.
Meena Lee and Cristie Kerr tied for third two with Lee producing a strong finishing burst to get within one. Lee finished more than an hour ahead of the final pairing of Gustafson and In Kyung Kim, four birdies in the last five holes making her a lot of money in short space of time.
Karrie Webb was the leading Australian finishing in a share of 5th position and securing a cheque for US$121,000 in the process.
Lindsey Wright finished 23rd, Rachel Hetherington 30th and Katherine Hull 44th.
The LPGA Tour now heads across the English Channel and to Lytham and St Annes in Lancashire for this week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes
