Karrie Webb wins 7th Australian Ladies Masters
GOLD COAST, Australia, March 7, 2010 — Karrie Webb won her seventh Australian Ladies Masters title Sunday, closing with a course-record 11-under 61 for a six-stroke victory.
Webb, a stroke ahead of defending champion Katherine Hull and South Korea's Lee Bo-mee entering the final round, finished at 26-under 262 on the Royal Pines course to match the tournament record she set in 1999.
Webb holed a 9-iron approach from about 125 yards for eagle on the par-4 seventh and made a 30-foot putt on No. 18 for her ninth birdie of the round. She broke the course record of 62 set last year by Kristie Smith.
Hull and Lee, bogey-free in four rounds, shot 66s to tie for second in the event sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour.
Hull said Webb played "flawless golf."
"It was just rock solid," Hull said. "She was swinging it well all day. I couldn't make a putt coming in, but it was just absolutely clinic golf on Karrie's part."
South Korea's Seo Hee-kyung (66) was fourth at 19 under, and compatriot Ryu So-yeon (70) followed at 15 under. American Amanda Blumenherst, the leader after the first two rounds, shot a 70 to tie for eighth, 13 strokes behind Webb.
The 35-year-old Webb has won seven of the 21 Australian Masters held since 1990, and has played in 19 of them, giving her a winning percentage at Royal Pines of 36 percent. Her first win came in 1998, meaning she has won seven of the past 12.
Miyazato wins Honda PTT LPGA Thailand with final-round 63
CHONBURI, Thailand, Feb. 21, 2010 – Japan’s Ai Miyazato shot 9-under-par 63 on Sunday to win the season-opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand by one shot over 2007 champ Suzann Pettersen. Miyazato, who was 10-under-par in her final 16 holes, chipped-in for birdie at 18 to clinch her second-career LPGA victory.
“(I) was trying to focus on every single shot and not trying to win or get a low score,” said Miyazato. “Just every single shot, try to hit the fairway, hit the green and make some putts. It was really simple, but under the pressure it was really difficult to do. I did it well.”
Miyazato entered Sunday five shots behind overnight leader Pettersen, but used a six-hole stretch to erase that deficit and turn Sunday’s final round at Siam Country Club’s Old Course into a two-player sprint to the finish. Miyazato started her day with a bogey at two, but got it back with a birdie at three. The 24-year-old Rolex Rankings No. 8 then went 6-under from holes six through 11 to move one shot behind Pettersen. The Norwegian, who was 1-under-par 35 on her front nine with a bogey at nine, extended the lead back to two shots with a 12-foot birdie at 10. Miyazato then birdied 13 and 15 to lock the pair at 20-under-par. Pettersen then missed her eight-foot par putt at 16 while Miyazato chipped-in from 10 yards behind the pin at 18 for a two shot swing. Pettersen’s 72nd hole eagle effort slid by the hole, but she tapped in for birdie to take runner-up honors by a stroke.
“There’s nothing I can do when Ai shoots 9-under,” said Pettersen. “I played pretty good golf and I don’t waste much energy thinking of why I didn’t win it. For me, it was a great start.”
For Miyazato, the win is her second in two seasons following Rolex First-Time Winner honors at last year’s Evian Masters Presented by Societe Generale. She banks $195,000 for the victory and takes an early lead on the LPGA Official Money List and the Rolex Player of the Year race. Last season, Miyazato had a career year, pocketing over $1.5 million with 13 top 10 finishes.
Annika Sorenstam To Serve As Honorary Chair
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 27, 2010) – Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam has been named the honorary chair for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, to be conducted at The Broadmoor, July 4-10. The Broadmoor was the site of Sorenstam’s first U.S. Women’s Open victory in front of a record-setting crowd in 1995.
"I am extremely honored to be able to serve in this role with the USGA," said Sorenstam. "The U.S. Women's Open is our premier championship and when I won at the Broadmoor in 1995, it was my first professional victory in the United States. Both the championship and the venue will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to going back.”
As honorary chair, Sorenstam will help promote the championship and appear at the ticket launch press conference in 2010. She will also host an exhibition during the week of the championship in which she will provide tips and demonstrate golf shots for spectators.
“We approached Annika to serve in this capacity because we wanted to honor her accomplishments at past USGA championships and her connection to the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor,” said Stephen Bartolin, Jr., president and CEO of The Broadmoor.
During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, Sorenstam rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards, and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered. She has 89 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA, 10 of which are major championships, including the 1995, 1996, and 2006 US Women’s Open titles. She earned a record eight Rolex LPGA Player-of-the-Year awards; a record-tying eight money list titles; six Vare Trophies for the lowest scoring average; was named Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year eight times and became the first player in LPGA history to cross the $22-million mark in earnings. She played on eight Solheim Cup teams and was inducted into the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame in 2003.
Sorenstam stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses. These include the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design which currently has eight projects worldwide, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel with Cutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards, a fragrance with SA Fragrances, and an online retail shop, shopannika.com. In 2007 Sorenstam started the ANNIKA Foundation as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. In 2008, Sorenstam was named an Ambassador of the United States Golf Association, and in 2009, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation. In this role, Sorenstam supported the successful efforts to have golf added to the 2016 Olympic Games.
Wie Wins
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Michelle Wie won her first LPGA Tour title, fulfilling the promise of a decade with a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
Wie finished off the victory in style, hitting a greenside bunker shot to 6 inches on the 18th hole and tapping in for a birdie.
"It's definitely off my back," she said. "I think that, hopefully, life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do."
The 20-year-old Wie raised both arms in the air — her putter in her right hand — and then put her hand over her mouth. After pulling the ball out of the hole, she turned to the gallery, looked to the sky and let out a big sigh of relief.
Wie hopped several times and kept pumping her right fist over and over. After all the expectations, her long wait was over.
Solheim Cup teammates Morgan Pressel and Creamer showered Wie on the 18th green after the winning putt.
"Just seeing them come out and pour beer all over me, it was a great feeling," Wie said. "I've always seen it on TV, and I've always wanted people to pour beer on me. It was as great as I thought it was."
Her parents, dad B.J. and mom Bo, also were there for an embrace.
"I think it's just so awesome, seeing them on the 18th green and hugging them," Wie said. "You know, we have been through a lot as a family, and it's just so great that they are here to share my highs and to keep me up from the lows, as well."
Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) were three back. Wie finished at 13-under 275 after starting the day tied for the lead with Kerr at 10-under.
Wie first qualified for a USGA event at age 10 and played an LPGA event when she was 12. She joined the LPGA this season and has begun to show the sizzling game that has made her arguably the biggest attraction in women's golf.
"Right now, it feels fantastic," Wie said. "It's a great year. I went through some ups and downs. And obviously this tournament is the icing on the cake."
The LPGA, battered by economic problems and the forced resignation of its commissioner this summer, needs this as much as Wie.
"Literally, when Michelle Wie is atop the leaderboard, it's like night and day, and that's star power," LPGA spokesman David Higdon said the day before Wie's win. "That's all it is. This is somebody people want to follow."
Local College Students Partner with the Women's Open
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Communications 320 class selected the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor to serve as the client for their fall term project. Students will work in groups to prepare a strategic public relations plan for the championship.
“This is an exciting and rare opportunity for UCCS public relations students to work closely with a major international sporting event and gain an understanding of real-world public relations issues” said Stephanie Blake, assistant professor of communication.
Students will spend an entire semester researching and learning about the U.S. Women’s Open. Each group will analyze Women’s Open previous communication efforts, avenues and plans, while gauging the efforts of current competitors. The students will present final public relations plans in December to the U.S. Women’s Open staff.
The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Announces Championship General Chairmen
Please join us in welcoming Kris and Curtis Olson to the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. The Olson’s have agreed to volunteer their time over the next two and a half years to serve as General Chairmen for the championship. During the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, Curtis and Kris served as Player Hospitality Committee chairmen. In their new role their responsibilities will include: serving as liaison between The Broadmoor and the USGA, acting as media spokespersons and providing leadership to the 33 committee chairs who will oversee more than 3,000 volunteers.
The Olson’s moved to Colorado Springs in 2001 from Austin, Texas. They are both mid- westerners and met at the University of Iowa. They have two children, Megan age 17 and Davis, 14. Kris and Curtis are both avid golfers. They were the 2006 Broadmoor Couples Champions and Kris was the President of the Broadmoor Ladies Golf Association in 2007. When they are not on the golf course, the Olson’s enjoy traveling and spending time with their family.
Hospitality Packages Feature Unique Offering
Added to the diverse hospitality inventory from the highly successful 2008 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor are the 18th fairway Cottages. Situated along the 18th fairway of the East Course, the Cottages provide a unique hospitality venue which includes up to eight private bedrooms each with its own custom five fixture bath. Indoor parlors feature large flat screen televisions and natural stone fireplaces for entertaining clients and guests. Outside, an expansive veranda provides unparalleled and unobstructed mountain and golf course views.
Only five Cottages are available during the U.S. Women’s Open. Interested companies may schedule a private tour of the Cottages by contacting Laura Caleal at (719) 471-6493 or via email at lcaleal@broadmoor.com. To view the Cottage preview video, click here. More info >
The U.S. Women's Open Returns to The Broadmoor in 2011
The Broadmoor has the privilege of hosting the 66th U.S. Women’s Open golf championship July 4 – 10, 2011. Conducted by the United States Golf Association, it is the most prestigious and coveted title in women’s golf. The top female golfers in the world will compete on The Broadmoor’s legendary East Course for the National Championship. The championship expects to draw more than 125,000 spectators, 500 world-wide media and more than 3,000 volunteers. Television coverage will be broadcast to more than 50 countries including live network coverage by NBC Sports. More info >
