Nordqvist clutch down stretch, claims LPGA Championship
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. - A long and memorable day for Anna Nordqvist ended with a well-deserved champagne shower on the 18th green.
Playing in only her fifth professional tournament, the steely nerved rookie from Sweden shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday to win the LPGA Championship by 4 strokes over Lindsey Wright.
Nordqvist finished at 15-under 273 in the tournament's final stand at Bulle Rock Golf Course. After letting a 5-shot lead dwindle to 1, Nordqvist sank a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 14 and essentially clinched her first career victory with a 35-foot putt for a birdie on No. 15.
When the shot dropped into the cup, the 22-year-old Swede pumped her fist with delight.
Not that she ever felt the need to panic. Throughout the week, Nordqvist appeared more nervous in the interview room than on the course. So after her advantage fell to a stroke, her mind-set never changed.
"I just kept being patient. I think that's really what paid off at the end," she said.
Wright, who shot a 70, said, "It was amazing. Under that amount of pressure, not being in that position before and in a major and being a rookie? You can't get any better than that. She really didn't falter today. She didn't show any nerves at all."
Jiyai Shin (68) was third at 10 under; Kyeong Bae (68) was 9 under, and Angela Stanford (69), Nicole Castrale (69) and Kristy McPherson (70) followed at 8 under.
Nordqvist's victory follows that of Yani Tseng, who won as a rookie in 2008 at Bulle Rock. Tseng tied for 23rd Sunday.