Red-hot Thai Ariya Jutanugarn won her third consecutive LPGA title on Sunday, firing a final-round five-under 67 to win the inaugural Volvik Championship by five strokes over American Christina Kim.
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She carded a 4-under 68 and had a four-day total of 279, tying with American Jessica Korda who had an even par 72 today. That hard-won self-belief is the culmination of a journey that began in her home country at the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand, when at the age of 11 Jutanugarn became the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA event. The way that she powers the ball is, it’s remarkable and she’s got such imagination around the golf course and incredible touch.
As Jutanugarn walked off ninth green, she stopped to shake the hand of Army specialist Zachary Loughrige, who was tending the US flag that was used in hole. She can hit it 320, 330, when she hits driver.
Jutanugarn has come a long way since missing 10 consecutive cuts during her rookie season in 2005.
“It’s just a matter of being patient and not being necessarily too aggressive”, Kim told lpga.com.
Also for Japan, Ayako Uehara opened with a 72 for the 33rd, while former world No. 1 Ai Miyazato, who missed out on qualification for the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this week, had a 73 for 49th. The championship ended with Jutanugarn snap-hooking her final drive into the water.
Did those struggles make her tougher?
Jutanugarn will be the favorite in two weeks at the next major, the Women’s PGA Championship.
“This year I just really want my goal is just like win a tournament so I win like three in a row quick”.
Oddsmakers just may make Jutanugarn the betting favorite with Ko there.
Jutanugarn is the first player in LPGA history to post her first three career wins in three successive events.
“Today is a lot more firm than yesterday, so it’s really hard to approach on the second shot”. “This year, I know how to play under pressure”. “I really want to hold this and I really want to keep my positive mind until Sunday”. Jutanugarn’s painful experience at the ANA Inspiration appears to be another case of a golfer learning a lot through a loss. This wasn’t the typical golf ding; Jutanugarn took a tumble while chasing her older sister, Moriya, trying to douse her with a water bottle.
WEST Australian Minjee Lee has put her best foot forward in the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Volvik Championship in MI to be in a share of third at the close of play. She made triple bogey and lost to Inbee Park. The LPGA’s only other MI tournament stop is the $2 million Meijer LPGA Classic played at Blythefield Country Club near Grand Rapids.
“I thought she was bored because she was sitting down”, Korda said.
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“It was great. I’m speechless”.
