South Korean Park wins third consecutive major

South Korean Park wins third consecutive major










June 30, 2013 8:17 PM

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nbee Park of South Korea holds the 2013 Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 2013 U.S. Women's Open …


(Reuters) - South Korean Park Inbee became only the second LPGA player to win the first three majors in a season when she roared to a four-stroke victory at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday.

The world number one held steady with a final-round two-over-par 74 to finish at eight-under 280 at Sebonack Golf Club in New York.

"I just hope this is not a dream," Park, who earlier this year won the Kraft Nabisco and LPGA championships, told reporters. "I don't want to wake up tomorrow and play the final round again."

Only Mildred (Babe) Didrikson Zaharias has previously won the first three women's majors in a season. She did it in 1950, winning the Titleholders Championship, the Women's Western Open and the U.S. Women's Open.

Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim matched Parks' 74 and took second at four-under 284 but was never able to really challenge Park.


Ryu So-Yeon was third at one-under 287 with Americans Paula Creamer and Angela Stanford and England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff tied for fourth at one-over 289.

Entering the day with a four-stroke advantage, Park's lead was briefly trimmed to three when Kim birdied the second hole but the runner-up gave a shot right back with a bogey on No. 4.

After bogeying holes No. 6 and No. 7, Park ran off birdies at the ninth and 10th holes to swell her cushion to six shots.

Park has won five times overall this year and three in a row. She took over the top ranking after claiming the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, then added the LPGA Championship earlier this month.

She will attempt to make it four majors in four tries at the at the Women's British Open in August before competing in September's Evian Masters, which has become the women's fifth major.

"I'm glad that I can give it a try at St. Andrews (for the British Open)," Park said. "That's going to be a great experience. Whether or not I (win it), I'm just a very lucky person."

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, Editing by Gene Cherry)

Golf-Haas pulls away on back nine for AT&T win

Golf-Haas pulls away on back nine for AT&T win










June 30, 2013 8:19 PM


* Woods hands Haas trophy

* Lee makes late charge (Adds detail, quotes)

June 30 (Reuters) - American Bill Haas broke free with a back nine surge and posted a three-stroke victory at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday.

Haas began a muggy final round in a four-way tie atop the leaderboard with fellow Americans Roberto Castro and James Driscoll and Andres Romero of Argentina.

He pulled away with three straight birdies from the eighth and two more at the 14th and 16th for a five-under 66.


"I just kept the ball in front of me," said Haas, who had missed the cut in three of his four previous PGA Tourevents. "Nothing too crazy."

Castro opened his round with a bogey at the first but was error free the rest of the day, returning a two-under 69 to finish three back of Haas, who collected his fifth career PGA Tour title with a four-day total of 12-under 272.

When Haas calmly rolled in a three-foot par putt at the 18th he joined Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose as the only players to record at least one PGA Tour win in each of the last four seasons.

The 31-year-old was handed the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods, who was unable to take part in the event because of an elbow injury that will keep the world number one out of action until the British Open.

"He played beautifully today," said Woods on the PGA Tour website. "He handled his business through the tougher stretch of holes and pulled away."

Long-hitting American Jason Kokrak (69) and South Korean Dong-Hwan Lee, with the round of the day at seven-under 64, finished in a tie for third one shot further adrift on eight-under.

Lee, chasing his first PGA Tour win, made a terrific charge with birdies on six of his opening eight holes, including five straight from the fourth.

Back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11 took the steam out of Lee's challenge but still finished strong with three more birdies to return the best round of the week at the Congressional. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Gene Cherry/Ian Ransom)

Haas pulls away on back nine for AT&T win

Haas pulls away on back nine for AT&T win










June 30, 2013 8:26 PM

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Bill Haas of the U.S. watches his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the Memorial …


(Reuters) - American Bill Haas broke free with a back nine surge and posted a three-stroke victory at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday.

Haas began a muggy final round in a four-way tie atop the leaderboard with fellow Americans Roberto Castro and James Driscoll and Andres Romero of Argentina.

He pulled away with three straight birdies from the eighth and two more at the 14th and 16th for a five-under 66.

"I just kept the ball in front of me," said Haas, who had missed the cut in three of his four previous PGA Tourevents. "Nothing too crazy."

Castro opened his round with a bogey at the first but was error free the rest of the day, returning a two-under 69 to finish three back of Haas, who collected his fifth career PGA Tour title with a four-day total of 12-under 272.


When Haas calmly rolled in a three-foot par putt at the 18th he joined Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Justin Roseas the only players to record at least one PGA Tour win in each of the last four seasons.

The 31-year-old was handed the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods, who was unable to take part in the event because of an elbow injury that will keep the world number one out of action until the British Open.

"He played beautifully today," said Woods on the PGA Tour website. "He handled his business through the tougher stretch of holes and pulled away."

Long-hitting American Jason Kokrak (69) and South KoreanDong-Hwan Lee, with the round of the day at seven-under 64, finished in a tie for third one shot further adrift on eight-under.

Lee, chasing his first PGA Tour win, made a terrific charge with birdies on six of his opening eight holes, including five straight from the fourth.

Back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11 took the steam out of Lee's challenge but still finished strong with three more birdies to return the best round of the week at the Congressional.

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Gene Cherry/Ian Ransom)