Sports

Webb wins Australian Open golf

Veteran player wins the event for the fifth time.

Afp February 16, 2014 Less than a minute read

karrie webb of australia tees off during the final round of the lpga women 039 s australian open at the victoria golf club in melbourne on february 16 2014 photo afp

Karrie Webb of Australia tees off during the final round of the LPGA Women's Australian Open at the Victoria Golf club in Melbourne on February 16, 2014. PHOTO: AFP

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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