After 13 years, Mallon wins another Open
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) — Meg Mallon left Annika Sorenstam and everybody else behind with the best final round by a winner in U.S. Women's Open history.
”I'm 41 years old, and you've got to enjoy your days, enjoy when things like this happen,” Mallon said. ”I was going to go out and have a fun time and play a great golf course and just do the best I can. And it was all that.”
Three strokes behind Jennifer Rosales after the third round, Mallon shot a 6-under 65 on Sunday for her second victory in the tournament and fourth major title. Sorenstam birdied the final two holes for a 67 to finish second, two strokes back.
”I did what I could do,” Sorenstam said. ”I got outplayed. I don't know how many of you thought there would be a 65 in the last few groups, but Meg proved us all wrong today.”
Mallon won the 1991 tournament at Colonial and had some other good chances to win the national championship before finally breaking through again at Orchards Golf Club.
”I'm incredibly proud that I have my name on that trophy again,” the former Ohio State star said.
The 13-year gap between victories is the largest in the 59-year history of the tournament.
She was in position to win in 1995 at The Broadmoor, but squandered a big lead and ended up losing to Sorenstam by a stroke.
”I kick-started Annika's career in '95,” Mallon said.
Born in Massachusetts and just 11 months old when her family moved to Detroit, Mallon was surrounded by her family and a few thousand old friends when she hoisted the trophy.
A record crowd of 118,458 turned out at the Orchards for the four-day event, and the fans made it clear that Mallon was the hometown favorite.
”I was having a ball with the gallery,” she said. ”I just said this isn't going to be a distraction, so I appreciated how much they were supporting me and I just fed off that.”
The 16-time tour winner finished at 10-under 274 and earned $560,000 from the richest purse in women's golf.
Merely a bystander during so many great moments in women's golf the last few years, Mallon finally celebrated one of her own.
She played with Sorenstam when she shot a record 59, with Juli Inkster when she won the LPGA Championship for the career Grand Slam, with Dottie Pepper when she had the lowest score in relation to par in a major, and with Karrie Webb when she earned enough points for the Hall of Fame.
This day belonged to Mallon.
”It was a surreal moment,” said Mallon, cheered on by two sisters, two brothers and a nephew.
She holed a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 4 to start closing in on Rosales, and an 18-footer on No. 11 that curled in the right side and gave her the lead for good. The biggest of all might have been a 25-footer for par from just off the fringe that rattled the pin at No. 15, giving her a cushion for the final three holes.
Mallon didn't make a bogey over the final 25 holes.
The last of her 24 putts in the final round was a tap-in for par that set off a wild celebration with her family.
”The cup looked like a bucket, and it was a great day for that to happen,” Mallon said.
And the final round was one for the ages, breaking by one shot the previous best by an Open champion, set by Inkster two years ago at Prairie Dunes.
Just like then, Sorenstam was the runner-up by two shots and wondered what hit her.
”I did everything I could control,” Sorenstam said. ”I can't control Meg. Sometimes, it's out of your hands and you have to accept that and move on.”
Kelly Robbins was the main challenger on the back nine until a bogey on the 15th. Robbins, who lost in a three-way playoff last year at Pumpkin Ridge, closed with a 69 to finish third at 6 under.
Rosales made her first bogey at No. 7 and quickly fell apart. She shot a 75 to finish seven strokes back in fourth place.
”I'm still in shock. Meg played awesome,” Rosales said. ”My caddie and I were having a bet. She said, 'She'll make this one, five bucks.' I said, 'You're on.' And then she makes it. She made everything she looked at.”
The teenagers never had a chance, but they put on a good show.
Michelle Wie, the 14-year-old sensation from Hawaii, had a 73 for her first round over par in a major this year. Paula Creamer, a 17-year-old with just as much game, shot a 72. Both tied for 13th at 1 over, making them exempt for the Open next year at Cherry Hills in Denver.
Mallon put on a sterling show on the greens, 10 times taking only one putt — including the clutch par on No. 15 that wasn't even on the green. It was gaining speed when it hit the pin and dropped, and Mallon was so stunned she held up the palm of her hands and cut loose that infectious smile.
”What are you going to do?” Mallon said. ”It's your day when things like that happen.”