Date: March 31, 2009
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Australians around the World: Weekend Review

LPGA TOUR J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, Papago Golf Course, Phoenix, Arizona. Australia s Karrie Webb broke through for her first victory for two years on the LPGA Tour with a two stroke win over Korean Ji-Yai Shin. Shin and Webb are developing a history of close calls when it comes to the final day in tournaments. In 2008, Webb defeated Shin in a play-off at the Women’s Australian Open at Kingston Heath before Shin held off Webb in the final round of the season ending ADT Championship before Christmas. Webb shot a final round 5-under-par 67 to finish at 14-under. Shin finished with a final round 70 for 12-under-par. It was Webb s first win on Tour since her victory in the 2006 Mizuno Classic and even more impressive given the wild winds in Phoenix caused a number of players including Natalie Gulbis and Michelle Ellis to withdraw during the second round. Webb moves up one place to World number 8 as a result of her win. Australia s Lindsey Wright finished in a tie for 11th position with a final round 69. Katherine Hull finished tied for 45th with last week s winner, Pat Hurst. PGA TOUR Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida. It was only a matter of time before normal service resumed. The world number one found his feet, as he has five times before, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Sean O Hair handled the course with aplomb in a tournament that saw players shooting over-par scores and still climbing up the leaderboard. But no amount of aplomb would stop Tiger. In an true Tiger fashion, he drained a 72nd hole birdie putt to win by one-stroke from O Hair and send those watching in the fading light into raptures. John Senden produced his best finish in months for a share of fourth place with in-form Nick Watney and Pat Perez. Senden finished at 1-under par and four strokes behind Woods. Robert Allenby finished in share of 11th after finishing at 1-over for the championship. Allenby s second round 65 had him well in contention but closing rounds of 74 and 71 had him just outside the top 10. James Nitties finished 22nd while Mat Goggin finished 30th and retained his 49th place on the World Rankings. If Goggin can hold on for another week at the Shell Houston Open, he ll earn his ticket to Augusta National. Stuart Appleby, Peter Lonard and Aaron Baddeley finished further down the leaderboard. Nick O Hern, Rod Pampling and Adam Scott missed the cut. EUROPEAN TOUR Open de Andalucia de Golf 09, Real Club de Golf Sevilla, Seville, Spain. Matthew Millar was the only Australian to make the cut at the Open de Andalucia de Golf 09. Millar shot rounds of 70-70-75-72 to finish at 1-under par. Dane Soren Kjeldsen won the tournament at 14-under par. Asian Tour 2009 Black Mountain Masters, Hua Hin, Thailand. Darren Beck was the highest placed Australian at the inaugural Black Mountain Masters in Thailand. Beck finished with a final round 67 to finish at 11-under par and six strokes behind Swedish winner Johan Edfors. Andrew Dodt and Neven Basic finished at 10-under and 9-under respectively. The Ladies European Tour and Futures Tour do not have scheduled events this week.