It's not to be for Natalie: Gulbis falters in playoff

Mi Hyun Kim birdied the third playoff hole to earn her seventh career victory.
SYLVANIA (AP) -- Natalie Gulbis tried to mask the hurt inside.
"I'm always smiling. But it's very upsetting," Gulbis said after Mi Hyun Kim rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat her and win the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Sunday.
Gulbis, who often models for magazines and calendars, is followed everywhere by huge galleries and is one of the best-known players on the LPGA Tour.
Still, she had never finished better than a tie for third in her 41/2 years on tour. The sudden-death defeat likely will amplify the questions about her ability to win.
Kim, who won the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic in 2002, earned $180,000 for her second victory of the year and seventh in seven seasons on the tour. The South Korean also won the Ginn Clubs & amp; Resort Open in April.
"She had so many fans!" Kim said. "I still cannot hear."
But Kim was emboldened by the fact that not everyone was cheering for Gulbis.
"I understand that I'm Korean and that many Americans fans are rooting for Natalie," Kim said. "I was happy that a few people said my name or my nickname, or 'Go Mi Hyun Kim.' "
Mediocre finish
Gulbis said Kim had one of the best short games on tour, but said she still should have beaten her. After birdieing six of her first 10 holes in the final round, Gulbis parred the last 11 despite having some terrific birdie opportunities.
It appeared Gulbis, who had five consecutive birdies on the front nine in the final round, had ended her drought when she stared down a 12-footer for birdie and the win on the second playoff hole. But she missed it.
"I had chances," she said. "It's not like I didn't have chances."
After Kim hit her clutch putt on the final playoff hole, Gulbis was wide on a 9-foot putt to continue the playoff.
"I won and I got a trophy," Kim said. "So I'm very happy."
The three top finishers each closed with 6-under 65s, with Kim and Gulbis completing regulation at 18-under 266. Paula Creamer, who birdied Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 but missed a 12-footer at 18 that would have gotten her into the playoff, even sat down in the grass near the 18th green to watch the playoff.
"What are you going to do?" Creamer said. "I made one at Sybase [to win in 2005] and this time I missed it. Next time I'm hopeful it'll go in."
Both Kim and Gulbis missed birdie putts of about 12 feet on the first playoff hole. Gulbis had the advantage on the extra hole, but missed another 12-footer that would have given her the win.
Se Ri Pak closed with a 66 to finish fourth at 268. She was trying to become only the third woman to win the same tournament five times. Mickey Wright won the Sea Island Open five times, and Annika Sorenstam has won the Samsung World Championship and the Mizuno Classic five times each. Sorenstam won the Mizuno five years in a row (2001-05).