Hjorth edges Yang, ends US hopes

A level-par 72 was more than enough for Maria Hjorth to capture the prized, season-ending LPGA Tour Championship.
A level-par 72 was just enough for Maria Hjorth to capture the prized, season-ending LPGA Tour Championship on Sunday.
That unspectacular, but crucial 72 enabled Hjorth to edge out South Korea’s overnight leader, Amy Yang, and end Christie Kerr’s US ambitions as she secured her first victory since 2007 and her fourth on the LPGA Tour overall.
Hjorth matched three birdies with three bogeys on a beautiful day at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, to finish on five-under par for the tournament and win by one stroke from Korean young gun Yang and by three from Kerr.
Kerr’s 73 gave her a share of third place with Korean In Kyung Kim and not the win she needed to regain the World No 1 spot and become the first American, as she had hoped she would be, to capture LPGA Player of the Year honours since Beth Daniel in 1994.
Only six of the 34 who made the final round cut finished under par for the event, with this unexpected result earning Taiwan’s Yani Tseng the LPGA Player of the Year award and enabling Korean Jiyai Shin to finish as the World No 1 in a year in which the number one ranking had changed hands nine times.
Tseng finished way back in 21st place in the event, but her position as LPGA Player of the Year remained intact as neither Kerr nor any other challenger for the award were able to gain enough points to move ahead of her in the standings, including Shin, who missed the final cut and didn’t even get to play in the final round.
Shin was at risk of being knocked off her World perch after missing the cut, but along with Kerr, Tseng, Na Yeon Choi, and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, they all failed to take advatage of the situation and get the points they needed to pass her in the standings.
Hjorth, who had previously won three times on the LPGA Tour, felt that the pressure on all the big guns fighting for crucial ranking points the various end-of-season awards had eased the way for her.
She said: “It was obvious other players had way more pressure on them, so I think in that regard, it might have been a little easier on me.”
Hjorth didn’t sail through without any pressure at all, though.
There was plenty at the 18th where she needed to hole a down-hill putt from 8 feet to make the birdie required for victory and that became clear after she nailed it when she threw up her arms in triumph and bursts into tears as she ran to the ropes to hug her 1-year-old daughter, Emily.
“Every win is emotional for me,” said Hjorth, who earned her fourth victory on tour but her first since becoming a mother.
“Being a mother and coming back after giving birth is definitely something that I’ve been hoping for.
“It’s nice to prove that it’s possible.”
Latest
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.
-
News
‘It’s inexcusable’ – Justin Thomas apologises for homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three was heard using the derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt.
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.
-
News
Xander Schauffele pledges to ‘fake it until I make it’ after contracting Covid
Schauffele is one of 16 players in the Sentry Tournament of Champions who failed to win an official event last season.
-
News
After years with TaylorMade, Jon Rahm joins Callaway
Spaniard will have Callaway woods and irons in his bag at Sentry Tournament of Champions.
-
News
What to expect from the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic
There are more prestigious events on the European Tour, but there’s no denying that the Dubai Desert Classic just has something about it.
-
News
Organisers delay ticketing process for 2021 Masters as another fan shutout looms
Augusta National Golf Club is considering its options before making a call on 2021 Masters.