Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 24 June 2019
Hannah Green holds her nerve and becomes major champion

By DOUG FERGUSON drilled another tee shot to
AP Golf Writer birdie range.
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Han- "I had it in the back of my
nah Green never felt more yardage book because I
nervous than standing over didn't want it to get rained
a 5-foot par putt Sunday at on," Green said. "A couple
Hazeltine National with a times on the back nine
chance to win her first ma- when I was feeling nervous
jor at the KPMG Women's and had some time, I actu-
PGA Championship. ally read it to myself."
Neither did Karrie Webb, The nerves didn't really
who won seven majors in leave, especially after mak-
her Hall of Fame career. ing three bogeys in a four-
Webb watched from out- hole stretch that dropped
side the ropes, her heart her to 8 under, a four-shot
racing. It was 11 years ago lead suddenly down to
in Minnesota that Webb one.
started a scholarship pro- Mel Reid closed with a 66
gram to bring young Aus- and posted at 6-under 282.
tralian amateurs to majors Nelly Korda was one be-
to spend a week with her hind until a soft bogey on
and experience golf's big- the par-5 15th. Park birdied
gest events. Four years that hole to get to 7 under,
ago, Green was one of and Green couldn't afford
those scholarship winners. any mistakes. It looked as
And now she's a major if she had it wrapped up
champion. when she made a 15-foot
Green held her nerve to Hannah Green, of Australia, holds the trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Champion- birdie putt on the 16th, the
the end, hitting 8-iron to 15 ship golf tournament, Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Chaska, Minn. signature hole at Hazeltine,
feet for a pivotal birdie on Associated Press followed by a par on the
the 16th hole, and getting 17th.
up-and-down from a bun- on the LPGA Tour. "I've al- ing is who she held off to water bottles, and Webb Park wasn't finished, how-
ker ono the 18th hole for ways wanted to win an claim the silver trophy. She would not allow that to ever, and she hit her tee
an even-par 72 and a one- event, and to win a major started the final round with happen. shot so hard on the 18th
shot victory over defending championship as my first is a one-shot lead over Ariya "It was Budweiser," she said. that it went through the
champion Sung Hyun Park. crazy." Jutanugarn, the most pow- Green, who won three corner of the rough into the
"I can't believe I'm in this She became the first wire- erful player on tour and a times on the Symetra Tour in fairway, setting up a tidy
position right now," said to-wire winner of this major two-time major champion. 2017 to earn an LPGA Tour approach to the back pin
Green, a 22-year-old Aus- since Yani Tseng in 2011, Jutanugarn didn't make a card, became the first Aus- position and one last birdie.
tralian in her second year and even more amaz- birdie in her round of 77. tralian to win an LPGA Tour Green answered her final
Then it was Park, another major since Webb won her challenge with the bunker
Jerry Kelly wins former No. 1 and two-time last one in 2006 at the Kraft save, and the celebration
was on with Webb and the
major winner, making an Nabisco Championship.
18-foot birdie putt on the "I'm
speechless,"
Green two scholarship winners,
hometown PGA Tour final hole for a 68 that left said as she fought to get Stacy Peters from Golf Aus-
Green no margin for error.
the words out through such tralia and Jarryd Fenton,
Champions event Watching it all unfold was strong emotions. "I was re- her boyfriend who plays on
Webb, as clutch as there ally nervous playing the last the PGA Tour of Australasia.
was in her prime, the only five holes." "I always wanted to win in
woman to capture the "Su- She finished at 9-under 279 front of an Aussie crowd,"
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — a lot of birdies coming up per Slam" of five different and won $577,500. Green said. "That's what it
Jerry Kelly won his home- and chirping right next to LPGA majors. She stayed It was hard work, even was like today. I'm over the
town PGA Tour Champions me and I was like, 'Hey, with Green in a house all though Green never surren- moon."
event, beating Retief Goos- hey, Dad, how are you?' It week, along with the two dered the lead on a cloudy Korda (71) and Reid tied
en with a birdie on the third was kind of surreal." most recent scholarship day at Hazeltine with some for third, while Lizette Sa-
hole of a playoff Sunday in Goosen also had a 66, and winners — Becky Kay and light drops of rain at the las (72) and Danielle Kang
the American Family Insur- Stricker shot 67. Grace Kim — who were end. (70) were four shots be-
ance Championship. "The playoff was exciting draped in Australian flags Green rolled in a 5-foot hind. The surprise was Ju-
Kelly closed with a 6-under stuff," Goosen said. "It was at Hazeltine. birdie putt on the par-5 sev- tanugarn, who started the
66 at rainy University Ridge good to be in that sort of "I feel like I won a golf tour- enth for a three-shot lead. final round one shot behind
to match Goosen and fight again. It's been a while nament today I'm so excit- With the group ahead still on a course that measured
tournament host and fel- since I've been in that kind ed for her," Webb said. "You waiting to tee off, a 7-year- nearly 6,800 yards, perfect
low Madison player Steve of position and it's nice to didn't do it yourself, but you old girl handed her a blue for her power. She tied for
Stricker at 15-under 201. finally get in that position. supported someone who sheet of paper. It was a 10th.
"The chills were flying up Now we can grow on that realized that dream." poem she wrote to Green, Green becomes the 11th
and down," Kelly said. "It and I'm looking forward to They all charged the 18th along with the words, "You player to win the last 11
was pretty amazing. My the U.S. (Senior) Open next green to celebrate with can win this." majors on the LPGA Tour,
mom saying the sun came week." Green, spraying her with Green, who had given a sign of growing parity.
out, my dad was there. I Stricker was eliminated with cans of beer in true Aussie Lily Kostner a golf ball at She also is the third winner
haven't won since my dad a bogey on the first extra fashion. It's become a tra- the ANA Inspiration this in the last five LPGA majors
passed, so this was the first hole. He missed an 8-foot dition on the LPGA Tour for year, read the poem and who had never won on the
one and I was talking to birdie putt on the par-4 friends to spray winners with hugged the girl, and then LPGA Tour....q
him all the time. There were 18th in regulation.q