Flawless victory for Shin
2008-08-03 19:51
Sunningdale, England - Shin Ji-Yai, at just 20-years-old, became the third South Korean to win the women's British Open with a flawless final round of 66 here on Sunday.
A winner of 17 titles on the Korean LPGA Tour, including one as an amateur in 2005, Shin finished on 18 under par and won the $314 000 first prize by three shots from Taiwan's Yani Tseng, who also shot six under.
"I was really nervous last night and couldn't sleep," said Shin. "But it is great to win a major title."
Four years ago, Shin's mother was killed in a car crash and her younger brother and sister were both seriously injured and she helped nurse them back to health. Now she dedicates each win to her mother's memory.
Pak Se Ri was the first South Korean to win the title, also at Sunningdale, in 2001, while Jang Jeong was the champion at Royal Birkdale three years ago.
Grace Park (2004 Kraft Nabisco Championship), Birdie Kim (2005 US Women's Open) and Inbee Park, winner of the US Women's Open last month, are the other South Koreans to claim women's majors.
Shin started the final round one shot behind Japan's Yuri Fudoh, but was one ahead by the time she birdied the first, fifth and ninth to reached the turn in 33.
She continued her match to glory with a four at the long tenth and then holed a monster putt for birdie at the 13th. She moved three clear with another birdie at the long 14th.
Asian clean sweep
Tseng, winner of her first major at the LPGA Championship in June, birdied the last for a 66 to finish on 15 under and South Korea's Eun-Hee Ji (67) and Fudoh (71) were tied for third on 14 under. Japan's Ai Miyazato made it an Asian clean sweep of the top five with a 70 for 13 under.
Defending champion Lorena Ochoa closed with a 69 for 11 under par to finish tied seventh. "But I'm not too frustrated," said the world number one. "I tried my best and I'm very impressed by how the low scores have been this week. It was a great win for Ji-Yai."
An emotional Annika Sorenstam finished her major career by majestically holing a 12-foot birdie putt at the last for a final round 68 and she tied for 24th on six under par.
Sweden's former world number one, who has announced that will step away from tournament play at the end of the year, had four birdies and an eagle at the 14th - she holed a 20-foot putt - in her 57th and last major.
The putt at the last raised memories of Jack Nicklaus's birdie finish to his last major at the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews.
"To finish with a birdie was great," said Sorenstam, who includes the 2003 women's British Open among her 10 majors. "I kept it together pretty well today, but I was emotional on the first tee and coming up the final few holes.
"I was pleased to play well and to break 70 for the first time this week. I just wish the birdie putt at the last had been for the championship."
As she walked up the final fairway, she was caught in a torrential downpour. "But I didn't care about the rain," she continued. "I saw a sign on the scoreboard saying Annika you will be missed' and then I was greeted with all the applause.
"It's been 15 great years of golf and I just really enjoyed the moment. It was also nice to share it with my caddie (Terry McNamara). We've been together for nine years and we are great friends so I wanted him to enjoy it too."
- SAPA