Inkster beats Sorenstam to take US title

JULI INKSTER fired a closing 66 to win her second US Women's Open title by two shots from Sweden's world number one Annika Sorenstam on Sunday.

The 42-year-old American’s four-under-par round equalled the best score of the week and gave her a four-under final total of 276. It was the seventh major victory of Inkster’s career and earned her a first prize of $535,000. Sorenstam, 31, bidding to win the tournament for the third time, carded an even-par 70 for 278 and was the only other player in the field to complete the 72 holes under par at the Prairie Dunes Country Club. Australian Shani Waugh (72) was third on 283, three over, with Spain’s Raquel Carriedo in fourth place on 284 after matching Inkster’s 66. South Korean Pak Se Ri was fifth on 285 and Britain’s Mhairi McKay sixth on 286.

Sorenstam, who was aiming for her eighth win of the year, started the day with a two-shot advantage and was the clear favourite to lift the trophy.

Inkster, however, had other ideas. The 1999 champion had complained all week that she was struggling with her game, but suddenly it all fell into place as she birdied the second, sixth and seventh holes in a flawless outward nine of 32. By the time she made her fourth birdie of the round at the 11th she had edged into a one-stroke lead. Sorenstam, who had done little wrong all day, missed a four-foot putt for par at the short 15th before Inkster, playing in the match ahead, holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the 16th to surge three clear.

The Swede picked up a stroke at the long 17th but it only served to narrow the victory margin.

“This is just awesome,” said Inkster, the second-oldest winner of the title after Babe Zaharias, who was 43 when she lifted the trophy in 1954.

“My short game had saved my game all week, but something just clicked today. I also knew I had nothing to lose and it’s just such a great feeling to win the trophy again.” Inkster also won the first of her record three successive US Amateur Championships at Prairie Dunes in 1980.

Sorenstam, the champion in 1995 and 1996, was disappointed at missing out on a third Open and a second major of the season.

“I did my best but it wasn’t good enough on the day,” said the winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

“Juli played excellent golf and deserved to win. I gave my all but there was nothing I could do to catch her.”

Aree Song Wongluekiet, one of two 16-year-old Thai twins, and American Angela Jerman, the two non-professionals to make the cut, tied on 294 after rounds of 73 and 74, respectively, and both received medals for the leading amateur.