Tight finish at hard fought US Women's Open
IN: News | LPGA | US Women's Open (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 03 Jul 2006
The already taxing US Women's Open is about to become even more so when Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst do battle over yet another 18 holes of golf in a playoff on Monday, to decide the winner of the most coveted crown in Women's golf.
After a day filled with drama and swinging fortunes, Hurst and Sorenstam emerged as the only survivors at the Newport Country Club, a course, which despite it's battering by storms leading into the event, showed once again that the great courses of a bygone era can stand the test of time.
Sorenstam and Hurst both parred the final hole today to remain one ahead of Stacy Prammanasudh, Se Ri Pak and Michelle Wie and therefore have the playoff to themselves.
Hurst somehow recovered from three bogeys in her last five holes of the morning eighteen to put together a stunning final round of 69 and in doing so became one of only two players to record two rounds under par in the championship. The other was Se Ri Pak who so narrowly missed out on a chance to win her second major of the year when her last round of 69 left her one shot short of the required number.
It was a day that started with Sorenstam and Hurst at the top of the pack and nearly ten hours and thirty six holes later they were still on top. They had withstood challenges from Juli Inkster, Michelle Wie, Se Ri Pak, Stacy Prammanasudh, Brittany Lincicome and others before they emerged as the joint 72 hole leaders.
Sorenstam appeared to be taking control after consecutive birdies at the first and second holes in round four but the accident that was waiting to happen to even the best player in the world was about to strike. A double bogey at one of the shorter par fours on the course, the seventh, was followed by consecutive bogeys at the 8th and 9th and all of a sudden it was Hurst who had turned things on their head. At even par she had the lead by one over Juli Inkster and by two over Michelle Wie, Sorenstam and Pak.
Sorenstam was back almost immediately with a birdie at the 10th hole and when she added two more at the 14th and 15th it appeared to all intents and purposes as if the Swede would add a third US Open to her amazing list of titles. Wie had moved within one at the 12th after holing a massive birdie putt but when she missed the green right at the par three 13th she dropped a shot that would prove the difference in the run to the finish line.
Hurst's birdie at the 14th had her one in front of Sorenstam but she was unable to respond to the world number one's birdies at 14th and 15th and fell one behind. Sorenstam bogeyed the 17th after her six iron was perhaps one too many and when she failed to get up and down they were locked at one over par with a one shot gap to Prammanasudh, Pak and Wie.
Sorenstam found the fairway from the tee but Hurst was not so fortunate, although it could be argued that she was fortunate to have a decent swing at her second. She was able to advance it forward some ten yards short of the green and perhaps 30 yards from the hole. Sorenstam found the green some 30 feet from the hole and appeared to have the edge once again. Hurst hit a beautiful pitch and run to around four feet left of the hole. Sorenstam hit a putt that looked as if it was going in but caught the right edge and lipped out and par seemed automatic.
Hurst was faced with what would have been a simple putt without the pressure of this being the US Women's Open but it poured into the left half of the hole and she had effectively given herself another chance over eighteen holes tomorrow.
While to a large extent it would seem that Sorenstam should take this title tomorrow, Hurst displayed a grit and determination, along with a very impressive game today that should see her in this to the death tomorrow. She has already won a major, that being when she won the Kraft Nabisco in 1998, but this is her National title at stake and that adds another dimension to its importance especially for the 37 year old mother.
Wie's third placing was yet another example of the amazing talent she is. Given that her LPGA appearances are restricted in the main to the majors, her record is stunning. That she is doing as well as she is at the ripe old age of 16 makes it even more difficult to comprehend.
The last day saw the potential for the oldest or youngest ever winner of the US Open. Wie at 16 would have been the youngest by more than three years while Inkster would have been the oldest by three. Wie will have many more chances although Inkster might have had her last. If it turns out that way for the veteran, the manner in which she contended today is yet another testament to her class as a player and individual.
Rachel Hetherington finished as the best Australian in 8th place, that being her best ever finish in this event. She hung in there for so long on such a demanding day that she will take a lot from her week and could well be a force in the weeks ahead.
Shani Waugh did brilliantly given her current status as an almost part time player when finishing in 24th place. She did finish 3rd at Prairie Dunes in 2002 but she will rate this week's effort very highly also.
Lindsey Wright and Karrie Webb finished 37th and the only other from Australasia to make the cut was Lynette Brooky, who started the week well but fell apart today with a final round 85.
Photo - WireImage
