Pettersen makes amends in Maryland

Norway's Suzann Pettersen threw away a chance to win the first major of the year but made amends with a final-round 67 to claim the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

The 26-year-old had six birdies and posted a 14-under-par 274 total to snatch the £150,000 (€221,051) prize by a shot from Australian veteran Karrie Webb.

South Korea’s 18-year-old rookie Na On Min, one ahead of Pettersen going into the final round, had a gutsy 70 and was third on 12-under.

Catriona Matthew had her 10th top 10 in a major with a flawless final round of 67. She was tied for 10th on seven under with fellow Scot Mhairi McKay also inside the top 20 on four-under after a 70.

Laura Davies had a 73 and was one under and tied for 30th.

Webb, a three-time Women’s British Open Champion, was chasing an eighth major and set a tough target when she holed a twisting 15-foot putt at the last to set the 13-under-par target.

But Pettersen holed a vital 12-foot putt at the short 17th for birdie and she made a solid par down the last to become the first Norwegian to win a major and a second LPGA title to set alongside the Michelob ULTRA Open she won in May.

At the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, Pettersen was three shots ahead with four to play, but finished a shot behind Morgan Pressel.

“I came so close back then, but I also learned from the experience,” said Pettersen, who was the Ladies’ European Tour Rookie of the Year and was the French Open Champion in 2001, but then was hampered by a string of injuries during her six years in America.

“To win the Michelob was huge and this is just amazing. I was just getting used to winning a tournament and now I’ve got a major. I felt the pressure when Karrie and Min were making birdies down the stretch. But this time I came through.”

Michelle Wie has been struggling with a wrist injury and threatened to withdraw after a third round 83 – the previous week she had pulled out of a tournament when she was 14 over par after 16 holes.

The 17-year-old managed to complete the 72-holes but shot a final-round 79 to finish last of the 84 players who made the cut on 21 over-par.

Two years ago she finished second as a 15-year-old amateur – one of her six top-10s in majors.

England’s Johanna Head had a great final round of 68 and tied with Wales’ Becky Morgan (70) on two over-par, while Wales’ Karen Davies, a US-based teaching professional, closed with a 75 for 10 over.

Lorie Kane, the only Canadian to make the cut, had her best score of the week and a 71 put her on six over-par.