(3 August 2009, Links Gate, Lytham St Anne&aposs, Lancashire, England)
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Eleven weeks ago, Scotland&aposs Catriona Matthew was giving birth to her second child Sophie. On Sunday, she became the first Scottish woman to win a Major Championship, the RICOH Women&aposs British Open. Rounds of 74, 67, 71 and 73 saw her claim victory by three shots over Australia’s Karrie Webb. Four players tied for third a further shot back; American’s Paula Creamer and Christina Kim, Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Korea’s Hee-Won Han.
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rnMatthew set up her lead with a phenomenal run on the back-nine on Friday. It started with an eagle on the par-5 11th hole followed by a hole-in-one on the very next hole. She added four more birdies and a bogey to come home in 30 strokes; 7-under par for the nine. This saw her move from a floundering 4-over par to a tie for the lead at 3-under after 36 holes.
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rnAfter a third round 1-under par 71, Matthew (-4) led Kim by three shots with Miyazato and Korea’s World No.4 Jiyai Shin a further shot back in third place at Even par. After a nervous beginning in the final round which saw the Scot drop shots at the 1st, 3rd and 10th holes, she found herself in a tie for the lead at 1-under with Evian Masters winner, Miyazato who was 1-under for the day through 12 holes. Kim was also still in the hunt at Even par. However, three birdies in a row from the 13th hole saw Matthew again move out to a three shot lead.
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rnEven allowing for a bogey on the 17th, Matthew maintained her 3 shot cushion walking up the last as Miyazato and Kim both made crucial mistakes over the final three holes, both dropping back to 1-over par. Webb, who started the final day in a tie for 14th at 4-over par had posted a bogey-free final round 4-under par 68 to hold the clubhouse lead at Even par and hoping for the field to come back to that mark. Alas, Matthew was too good on the week and later commented, “Coming up the last hole was a feeling I don&apost think I&aposve ever had before. Just a tear in my eye trying to hold myself together for the last two putts.”
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rnFor Matthew, it was her first Major title and her third career LPGA victory for which she collected US$335,000.00. The win also gained her a start in the Samsung World Championship in September.
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rnFor Webb, who has seven Major titles to her name, it was the fifth time in her career finishing runner-up at a Major. It was also her best finish in a Major since finishing second at the 2007 McDonald’s LPGA Championship. With a cheque for US$210,000.00 she moved up to 9th place on the Official Money List with US$753,878.00 in season earnings.
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rnKatherine Hull was the only other Australian to make the cut finishing in a tie for 40th at 12-over par total 300. She started the final round in a tie for 62nd but climbed the leaderboard with an impressive finish of 1-under par 71. She collected a cheque for US$12,750.00 to sit in 23rd place on the Money List with earnings of US$376,434.00.
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rnThe LPGA resumes on 28 August 2009, the week after the Solheim Cup, with the US$1.7million Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Karrie Webb
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