(15 November 2010 – New Delhi, India)
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rnEngland&aposs Laura Davies has now won seventy-seven titles (77) worldwide after an amazing comeback secured her the Hero Honda Women&aposs Indian Open in New Delhi on Saturday. Davies conjured up a birdie-eagle finish to make it to a four-way playoff and then found another birdie on the first playoff hole to claim the title. The trio of players left disappointed were Sweden’s Louise Friberg, South Africa’s Tandi Cuningham and Thailand’s Nontaya Srisawang.
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rnIn what will be a memorable week in more ways than one, Davies thought she would play the first round “with borrowed clubs in a pair of jeans” after her bags and clubs went missing for the first three days of her visit. A mad rush on the morning of her first round to the airport and an interrogation by armed forces saw her at least begin the tournament with her own clubs and her usual Srixon clothing.
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rnThis was just the start of a roller-coaster ride that will rival any she has had in two and a half decades of playing golf around the world. Her first round of 7-under par 65 was bogey-free and gave her a two shot cushion over Australia’s Rebecca Flood.
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rnDavies produced 7 birdies in her first 18 holes, but in her next 34 holes she could add only one more birdie coupled with six bogeys and a double to be at even par with two holes to go. At that point, she was three shots from the lead and it looked likely just another Top-10 for the popular Englishwoman.
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rnWhat was to follow belied belief but typical of someone with 77 career victories who just knows how to win. A birdie at the short par-4 17th hole was followed by an eagle 3 at the 430 yard par-5 18th and all of a sudden Davies was joint leader at 3-under par in the clubhouse with Friberg. Both Srisawang and Cuningham required birdies at the last to join the playoff and the four players marched back to the 18th tee with the momentum definitely in Davies’ favour.
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rnUsing her length off the tee, Davies was the only player able to reach the green in two and knowing they needed something special, both Friberg and Cuningham had dunked their balls in the water, while Srisawang could only reach the green in three and it was left to Davies for a comfortable two-putt birdie and the title was hers. Asked about the playoff hole she said, “I love the 18th. It gave me life, it gave me money and it gave me the title. I’ll remember this hole for a long, long time.”
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rnOf the ALPG Members, Rebecca Flood was the best finishing in a tie for 18th while Frances Bondad (T31), Danielle Bowers (T35), Sarah Nicholson (T41) and Rebecca Coakley (T41) all made the cut. The players are all on their way home for a well-earned rest after four weeks in Asia and the tour will conclude in four weeks at the season-ending €500,000 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
Author: Paul Melville