(25 July 2011 – Evian-les-Bains, France)
rn
Japanese star Ai Miyazato clinched her first title of the year this morning, her second Evian Masters title after winning in 2009. She fired a 2-under par 70 to protect her two-shot overnight lead and held off a surge from American Stacy Lewis who finished in outright second. Angela Stanford (USA), I.K. Kim (Korea) and Miki Saiki (Japan) all finished tied for third.
rn
rnThe 26-year-old Miyazato pledged to share her US$487,500 prizemoney with the people still suffering in the aftermath of the disasters back home in Japan. She said, "I haven&apost decided yet, whether it will be all of the amount or some of it. This year I was playing for Japan."
rn
rnMiyazato played with consistency throughout the tournament, dropping shots on just five of the 72 holes overall and finished with a 15-under par total of 273. Lewis also shot a final round 70 but will rue a golden chance to put pressure on Miyazato at the 16th hole where she 3-putted for bogey to fall two off the pace.
rn
rnMiyazato had not won a title since the Safeway Classic last August, and she now has seven LPGA titles overall. She won her first at Evian in 2009, and added five more in 2010. Afterwards she commented, "It feels amazing, this is my favorite tournament so I&aposm really happy that I could win this again. I am just really happy to bring some happiness to Japan."
rn
rnMiyazato raised both arms in the air after she sank her winning putt, and several players ran on to the green to soak her with water. Miyazato joins two-time winners Laura Davies of England and Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, and needs one more Evian win to tie Sweden&aposs Helen Alfredsson, the inaugural tournament champion and record-holder with three.
rn
rn"I want to win it as many times as possible. I am looking forward to getting more opportunities," Miyazato added.
rn
rnLewis, this year’s Kraft Nabisco winner, kept the pressure on and moved one shot behind Miyazato with a birdie on the 15th. But, with a birdie chance to square the ledger on the next hole, Lewis three-putted for a bogey to be two adrift of Miyazato again, her chance having slipped away.
rn
rn"That&aposs the one shot I wish I could go back and hit again. Just left myself in a really bad spot," Lewis said. "When I missed that putt, I looked up and saw (Miyazato) had fallen back to 15 under, so I was kind of disappointed with that."
rn
rnMiyazato started with three birdies and no bogeys on the front nine. She birdied the third, then the sixth and had another on the eighth to surge ahead at 16 under par. At that point, it looked as if it would be a comfortable victory.
rn
rnHowever, she did show signs of nerves on the back nine. A bogey on the 12th and a birdie from Ran Hong, Miyazato&aposs playing partner on the day, trimmed her lead to just one shot. Miyazato bounced right back with a birdie on the next hole, while Hong then bogeyed to drop three behind and give Miyazato some breathing space, which she needed after another bogey on the 14th. "I was nervous this morning, but I had a really good feeling with my game and I really trusted myself," Miyazato said. "Even when my lead was down to one I was never in a hurry, I expected that to happen."
rn
rnAn Australian charge never really got going with Lindsey Wright the best, finishing in a tie for 44th at even par after rounds of 73, 71, 72 and 72. Karrie Webb was the only other to make the cut finishing at 2-over par in a tie for 56th.