Weekend winners: Canada’s Henderson pips Ko for Major glory
LPGA Tour: Women’s PGA Championship – Brooke Henderson
Lydia Ko was bidding to become the fifth player in tour history to win three straight Majors. She then shot a bogey-free 67 at Sahalee – and still lost. Henderson produced an error-free 65 to overhaul a three-shot deficit on the back nine and then hit a 7-iron from 155 yards to three feet at the first hole of the play-off.
The 18-year-old is just the second Canadian to win a Major, Sandra Post was the first in 1968, and she is now expected to move to No 2 in the world. She is also the second youngest winner of the Major, Ko is still the youngest after her Evian triumph last year.
Ariya Jutanugarn, who had won her last three starts, produced a 66 but came up one shot shy.
Henderson’s highlight came at the 11th when she rolled in a 90-footer and two more birdies saw her come home in 31. At the 18th she had to hole a 12-footer for par while Ko missed from four feet at the 17th for birdie. Her week began in spectacular fashion with a hole-in-one on Thursday.
Catriona Matthew tied for 12th while Charley Hull finished with a 68 to claim 16th place.
What Henderson said: ”To think about all of the incredible players that have come before me (from Canada) – I was reading some of the names on this trophy and it’s very, very cool. I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer. There’s still three Major championships left. I’d like to get my name on all three of those. But I won’t get ahead of myself here.”
ICYMI: @BrookeHenderson's clutch eagle at the 11th! Tune into @GolfChannel for LIVE coverage of the @KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/Adci2Lcvt8
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 12, 2016
PGA Tour: St Jude Classic – Daniel Berger
The 23-year-old clinched his first victory with a three-shot win to head to Oakmont full of confidence, as will Phil Mickelson who shared second place with Brooks Koepka and Steve Stricker.
Berger had three birdies in the last seven holes and the victory moves him from 46th to 29th in the world.
Americans Steve Stricker, Brian Gay, Russell Henley and Korea’s Seung-Yul Noh booked their tickets to Troon with their high finishes.
Mickelson, winner of five Majors, has finished runner-up six times at the US Open, the only Major he has not won.
He is looking to become the sixth man to win all four modern big ones after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods.
Dustin Johnson will arrive at Oakmont with some momentum after shooting a 63, including a 29 on his final nine holes which had chip-ins on 16 and 18.
What Berger said: “It’s the greatest feeling. You work so hard to get here and to finally be able to put the trophy up. I’m just thrilled right now.
“I’m just a competitor. I got off to a terrible start today [with a bogey at the first hole] and I just grinded it out and was able to get some putts to fall.”
Big putt.
Big moment.
Bang.#ShotOfTheDay https://t.co/Uq1Q3mWZTd— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2016
European Tour: Lyoness Open – Wu Ashun
Wu became the first Chinese player to win on European soil after finishing a shot ahead of Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, with England’s Richard McEvoy in third for his best finish.
The 30-year-old won on home soil last year and doubled his victories with a closing 69 in Austria.
He carded five birdies on the front nine to lead by three but then made a double bogey after finding the water at 10 and followed that with a bogey. He was joined at 16 under after Otaegui birdied the 16th but the Spaniard then gave that shot back at the next.
Wu then safely negotiated the 18th, Otaegui narrowly missed his birdie putt and the trophy went to the World No 222.
NCG columnist James Morrison took fourth spot with Wentworth champion Chris Wood in a share of sixth.
What Wu said: “I am very happy right now. It was a very exciting finish and I still cannot believe it but my playing partners were really good and the scores were very close. My mindset was very good and it was a great week overall. It feels so good to win. I felt really good out there and this is a great event so I’m very happy to win this tournament.”
Top five shots of the week https://t.co/ABijzX4Kku
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 12, 2016
European Senior Tour: Jersey Open – Gordon Manson
The Austrian outlasted Ian Woosnam and Gary Wolstenholme to secure his second title after three extra holes.
Woosnam, who lives on the island, birdied the 18th to join the play-off and looked like winning it but his four-footer at the second extra hole slid by. He had led overnight by two shots after back-to-back 67s.
And Manson took advantage one hole later by rolling in a putt of twice that length. Manson first won last year at the Swiss Seniors Open, Woosnam’s last victory came in 2014.
What Manson said: “It’s amazing, I’m delighted. But I’ve worked hard towards this win, it doesn’t happen for nothing. I put in a lot of work and got my game up to a standard where I can play alongside the top players and match them.
“I thought when Ian stepped up for that putt on 18 that it was over and that he was going to hole it. They aren’t easy though and Ian gave us a chance. My drive on the 17th was terrific and it left me with a nine iron into the wind. I hit a great shot and got it to eight feet. I lined the putt up, saw it was straight and thought ‘there’s a chance here’, and it was my moment.”
Highlights from the final day of the #AcornJerseyOpen and Gordon Manson's play-off victory at La Moye Golf Clubhttps://t.co/w9JbfOcwP8
— European Senior Tour (@EuroSeniorTour) June 12, 2016
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
