(24 November 2009 – Richmond, Texas)
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Sweden&aposs Anna Nordqvist fired a superb final round of 7-under par 65 to complete a two-shot victory at the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex. She had started the day tied and playing with World No.1 Lorena Ochoa and showcased her full-potential by outgunning the Mexican by two shots as Ochoa birdied the 18th to finish in outright second. Overnight leader Kristy McPherson fired a final round 2-under par 70 to finish with Na Yeon Choi who posted the round of the day, an 8-under par 64.
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rnWith the Player of the Year race on the line, many thought the final day would be a shootout between Korea’s Jiyai Shin and Ochoa. Shin had started the day at 7-under par, one shot ahead of Ochoa and Nordqvist with McPherson on 8-under. It was Ochoa who got out of the box early with three straight birdies to race to an early lead. Shin bogeyed her first hole to find herself four behind before she’d even basically woken up.
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rnBy the turn, Ochoa had dropped a shot, while Nordqvist had picked up three to move into the lead at 9-under par, tied with McPherson who made the solitary birdie on the front nine. The tournament was won over the next six holes where Nordqvist posted 5 birdies and a bogey to move to 13-under par. Ochoa was fighting hard but couldn’t quite match her playing partner, only recording three birdies in the same holes to fall two behind. A bogey at the 17th put paid to Ochoa’s chances and allowed Nordqvist to coast in with three straight pars to record her second victory in her rookie season.
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rnThe other story unfolding over the back nine was the Player of the Year race. In the end, a birdie at the last hole by Ochoa was enough to move her into outright second and gave her enough points to overtake Shin and capture her fourth straight Rolex Player of the Year title. In the end she won by just a solitary point and added the Vare Trophy for low-scoring average to her list of achievements, also her fourth in a row. Shin can console herself with her Rolex Rookie of the Year title and the fact she was the winner of the Official Money List with season earnings of US$1,807,334.
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rnKatherine Hull put together a solid three rounds of 71, 72, & 70 to be the best of the ALPG contingent finishing in tied 20th at 3-under par. Sarah Jane Smith (T41), Karrie Webb (T50), Wendy Doolan (T50), Rachel Hetherington (T60) and Lindsey Wright (T68) all made the cut but couldn’t manage to figure in the finish. Unfortunately Sarah Kemp was disqualified after her final round. Karrie Webb was again the highest ranked Australian on the Official Money List, finishing in 12th place with US$968,098 in season earnings. Lindsey Wright (18th with US$734,742) and Katherine Hull (27th with US$461,820) can also be pleased with their performances throughout the season.