By DOUG FERGUSON, AP
Posted: 3:15 am
June 30, 2008
EDINA, Minn. - Two weeks away from her 20th birthday, Inbee Park became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Open yesterday by closing with a 2-under 71 as everyone around her faded away at Interlachen.
Park didn't make a bogey over the final 10 holes, pulling away with three clutch putts early on the back nine and building a four-shot lead going to the final hole. She finished with a tap-in birdie, and a few of her fellow South Koreans doused her with beer.
The victory came 10 years after Park took up the game, inspired by watching Se Ri Pak win the Women's Open at Blackwolf Run to become the youngest champion at age 20.
"It's really an honor and very special for me that I won the event 10 years after I start playing," Park said. "Everything happened so fast. It's scary. I really tried to stay calm, but it was so exciting, I couldn't do it. This is my day."
Park finished at 9-under 283 and earned $585,000 from the richest purse in women's golf. Her four-shot victory over Helen Alfredsson of Sweden, who shot 75, was the largest in the Women's Open since Karrie Webb won by eight shots at Pine Needles in 2001.
No one imagined the only drama on the back nine would come from Annika Sorenstam, who was never in contention competing in her final Women's Open before retirement at the end of the season.
Her final shot was a 6-iron from 199 yards that tumbled into the cup for eagle.
Stacy Lewis, trying to become the first player to win a major in her professional debut, took double bogey from 80 yards away on the par-5 second hole and struggled all afternoon with her lag putting. She staggered home to a 79 and tied for third at 4-under 288 with Angela Park (73) and In-Kyung Kim (75).
Lorena Ochoa closed with a 74 to tie for 31st.
