The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Sterling show by Mallon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

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Sport - Golf

Sterling show by Mallon

SOUTH HADLEY (USA), JULY 5. Meg Mallon shot the lowest final round by a champion in the 59-year history of the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday, a 6-under 65 that allowed her to erase a three-shot deficit against Jennifer Rosales and win the fourth major of her career.

Mallon finished at 10-under 274 for a two-shot victory over Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and earned $560,000 from the richest purse in women's golf.

Thirteen years after she won the U.S. Women's Open at Colonial in scorching heat, Mallon again blistered the field by avoiding bogey over the final 25 holes and riding a hot putter that showed up just in time. She made a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 4 to gain momentum and an 18-footer that curled in on the 11th hole to take the lead for good.

The last of her 24 putts in the final round was a tap-in for par that set off a wild celebration with her family.

``The cup looked like a bucket, and it was a great day for that to happen,'' Mallon said.

Mallon, born in Massachusetts and beloved by all, has been privy to some magical moments on the LPGA tour over the last several years.

She played with Sorenstam when the Swede became the first woman to shoot 59. She was with Juli Inkster when she won the LPGA Championship to complete the career Grand Slam. She played with Dottie Pepper at the Nabisco when she set the LPGA major championship scoring record at 19 under par.

This time, she made history of her own. The 13-year gap between U.S. Women's Open wins is the largest in history. And the final round was one for the ages, breaking by one shot the previous best round by an Open champion, set by Juli Inkster two years ago at Prairie Dunes.

Just like then, Sorenstam was the runner-up by two shots and wondered what hit her.

She birdied the final two holes for a 4-under 67 that made Mallon to play hard to the very end, but she still had to settle for the consolation prize. ``I thought I put on a good performance today. It's all I could do,'' Sorenstam said.

Kelly Robbins was the main challenger on the back nine until a bogey on the 15th. Robbins, who lost in a three-way play-off last year at Pumpkin Ridge, closed with a 69 and finished third.

Rosales made her first bogey at No. 7 and quickly fell apart. Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, she closed with a 75 and finished fourth.

The teenagers never had a chance, but they put on a good show.

Fourteen-year-old Michelle Wie of Hawaii and 17-year-old Paula Creamer tied for low amateur at one-over 285. They finished in a tie for 13th, making them exempt for next year's Open at Cherry Hills in Denver. Wie shot 73, her first round over par in a major this year. Creamer had a 72. — AP

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