LPGA Championship The first two visits by the McDonald's LPGA Championship to Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace produced victories by a pair of Hall of Famers, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak. Suzann Pettersen might get there someday, and if she does, her win yesterday will be looked upon as the starting point.
Pettersen, a 26-year-old from Norway considered by many players as the LPGA Tour's next big star, won her second tournament in less than a month and the first major championship of her quickly blossoming career, overtaking surprise third-round leader Na On Min of South Korea on the front nine and holding off Min and Hall of Famer Karrie Webb of Australia on the back.
With a round of 5-under-par 67 and a four-round total of 14-under 274, Pettersen was one stroke better than Webb and two ahead of Min. It marked the second straight time Webb finished second in this tournament, after her playoff loss last year to Pak.
"It's a major - I haven't realized that yet," said Pettersen, whose first LPGA victory came last month in Williamsburg, Va., where she won an event widely regarded as the tour's fifth major, the Michelob Ultra Open. "But it's certainly nice to stand there on the green by yourself and lift the trophy."
Known for her short fuse and long drives, Pettersen kept her emotions in check and her tee shots mostly in the fairway, something she had failed at during the final round of this year's Kraft Nabisco Championship, the season's first major. There she dropped a four-stroke lead with four holes to play and lost by one to Morgan Pressel.
This time, Pettersen was able to play flawlessly on the back nine, matching the birdies made by Webb and Min, who in one stretch made four straight, with four of her own. None was bigger than the 15-footer on the par-3 17th that gave Pettersen a two-stroke lead and some breathing room.
`That made it a little easier," Pettersen said.
Still, Pettersen heard the roars ahead for Webb, whose 20-foot birdie putt hung on the lip on the par-4 18th before dropping in, eliciting a double-fist pump from the normally placid Webb. Pettersen knew she had to place her tee shot at the final hole in the fairway and her approach close enough to two-putt for par.
"I was really relieved when it hit the fairway on 18," said Pettersen, who left her approach about 30 feet from the cup and then lagged to within a foot before tapping in for par. "Then I knew I could do it."
