South Korean Inbee Park has claimed her third straight KPMG Women’s PGA Championship title and moved back to the top of the rankings in the process.
The 26 year old, who took a two-shot lead into the final day and finished with a flawless five-under 68, is only the second player after Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam to win the tournament three times in a row.
Two-time reigning champion Park triumphed by play-off in both 2013 and 2014, but things were much more comfortable for her this time around at Westchester Country Club.
Her nearest competitor, and compatriot, Kim Sei-young made things interesting with five birdies and two bogeys on the first eight holes to sit just one behind Park on 15 under at that point.
But while Park picked up a shot on the final hole before the turn, Kim hit a double bogey, and that three shot swing was enough to see Park pull clear before adding further birdies on 10 and 18 to finish on 19 under. Kim could only find two birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
Park’s victory lifts her back to first place in the world rankings, usurping New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who failed to make the cut in New York.
“I played great the last three days,” Park told Sky Sports News HQ. “I couldn’t believe myself. I made no bogeys for three days.
“I don’t know what word can describe how I feel right now. I’m so thrilled and so honoured to be in this position, and I do things that I can’t even believe.”
Lexi Thompson was the highest-placed American, finishing third a shot behind Kim, while her compatriots Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel were just behind her - with the latter tied for fifth with Canadian Brooke M Henderson on 10 under.
Fabian Gomez wins first PGA title at FedEx St Jude Classic
Argentinian Fabian Gomez has claimed his first PGA Tour victory after easing to a four-shot margin over the rest of the field at the end of the FedEx St Jude Classic.
Gomez began the final day at TPC Southwind sharing the lead with Englishman Greg Owen, who was also searching for his first PGA Tour win, but the 36-year-old carded a fine four-under 66, while Owen stuttered to a par 70.
Gomez, who had to earn back his PGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour last year, finished the event on 13 under overall, while Owen remained on nine-under to finish in second place.
Owen held his own on the front nine against playing partner Gomez, with both men picking up two birdies and a bogey before the turn as they slugged it out in a tense battle for the title.
But bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes saw Owen fall behind, despite picking up another shot on the four-par 15th, while Gomez picked up birdies on the 11th, 16th and 18th holes to wrap up the victory.
Phil Mickelson, who was using the event as a way to tune his game up for the US Open later this month, finished a shot further back in a five-way tie for third on eight under overall.
Mickelson, who remains without a win since 2013, told the PGA Tour website: “I’m feeling a lot better about heading into the US Open after this week than I did after last.”
Scot Russell Knox was one of four men on seven under, while Luke Donald was down in T29 on three under.
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