FANTASTIC finish at LPGA Kraft Nabisco
The final hour of this championship turned into what will probably go down in history as the most exciting finish ever at an LPGA major. Whew! I’m exhausted from watching.
Within a span of a minute, Michelle Wie almost pitched her full wedge in for eagle at the 16th, only to miss by inches. Then, on 18, Karrie Webb — who rebounded from yesterday’s terrible play — hit her wedge from 116 yards up and in for eagle. Her caddie called it, whispering “Be right” while the ball was in the air. It was. Right in the hole. That put Webb ahead at -9, but Michelle had the easy putt on 16 for -8.
Meanwhile, Natalie Gulbis looked and played brilliant today (shooting another 68 without any bogeys), and she made a huge clutch birdie on the 17th to pull into a tie with Michelle at -8. Third-round leader Lorena Ochoa, however, was having her difficulties all day, and was 2-over for the day when she stood on the 18th hole. In other words, she needed an eagle to get into a playoff, while Michelle and Natalie only needed birdies. Well, you guessed it, Lorena’s luck finally changed, and she stuffed a 5-wood on the green in 2 and ended up sinking her clutch 12-footer for EAGLE! Michelle and Natalie both hit great putts for birdie that grazed the edge, but did not go down.
Playoff: Karrie v. Lorena, the Old Guard v. the New Guard. Holy smokes! Karrie Webb just sunk a 6-footer for birdie on the 1st playoff hole to win! Amazing! The Old Guard staved off the New Guard, … at least for now. Karrie really deserved it after shooting an incredible 7-under 65 today after playing so poorly yesterday.
I’m emotionally drained, but will have more to say after I get an IV.
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