Webb wins Australian Open golf

Veteran player wins the event for the fifth time.

SYDNEY: Karrie Webb edged South Korea’s Chella Choi in a ‘nerve-racking’ battle to win her fifth Women’s Australian Open and 40th tour title on Sunday with a 12-under-par. The veteran Australian came from five behind at the start of the day to win by a shot from Choi, the overnight leader who shot a course record 10-under 62 in the third round.

Webb, 39 and a former world number one, thrived in gusty conditions to take her first home Open crown since 2008, finishing with a final round four-under 68.

She faced a tense wait as Choi chasing her first US LPGA title missed a birdie putt on the par-five 18th which would have forced a playoff.

“It was nerve-racking. I actually thought once Chella had that putt on the last -- I’ve played with her quite a bit and I was expecting that one to go in,” said Webb.

New Zealand sensation Lydia Ko finished tied third at 10-under (73) with France’s Karine Icher (71) and American Paula Creamer (68).

Published in The Expres Tribune, February 17^th, 2014.

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