Petterson hangs on for first major win

Ten weeks after giving away the LPGA’s first major, she was sound at the finish.

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. (AP) — With a major championship in her grasp, Suzann Pettersen never flinched.

Not at the furious charge from 18-year-old Na On Min, who made four straight birdies to pull within one shot. Not at the relentless pressure from Karrie Webb, who birdied the last two holes. And not at memories of a major meltdown 10 weeks ago.

Pettersen felt like a different person at the LPGA Championship.

And it showed.

One shot better than Webb

The 26-year-old Norwegian redeemed herself Sunday with a 5-under 67 for a one-shot victory over Webb and her first major. She played so close to perfection on the back nine at Bulle Rock that she had a birdie putt on every hole, only two of them longer than 12 feet.

There was no choke from this champion.

“I wasn’t even close to being in those emotions that I was back then,” said Pettersen, who blew a three-shot lead with four holes to play at the Kraft Nabisco. “I finally proved to all of you that I can actually put it all together and take a major. So now, I probably don’t have to get that question again.”

The only question now is how good she can get.

Webb described her earlier in the week as having more talent in her tiny finger that some players on the LPGA Tour, and Pettersen showed it on a demanding course, finishing at 14-under 274.

“I believe I can be the best player in the world,” said Pettersen, who overcame a back injury two years ago so serious that doctors told her she might not ever play again. “But you have to give me time. It definitely helps with my confidence.”

Made final run

Webb closed with a 67 and had to settle for second again.

A year ago, Se Ri Pak beat her in a playoff with a 201-yard shot that stopped a few inches from the cup. This time, Webb finished with two birdies that, considering what happened at the Nabisco, she thought might be good enough.

“I knew what happened to her at Kraft, and I just knew I needed to keep putting pressure on her,” Webb said. “She obviously executed very well coming down the stretch, and she should be very proud of herself. It shows a lot of courage and guts and trust in her ability.”

Min, trying to become the youngest major champion in LPGA history, ran off four straight birdies through the 16th hole to get within one shot and had a 10-footer on the 17th. But she settled for pars on the last two holes for a 70 to finish third. It was her first time playing in a major, and only her sixth tournament as a pro.

Pettersen bounced back from her collapse at the Nabisco by winning a month later at the Michelob Ultra Open. But at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, she removed any lasting doubts about her psyche.

She made four birdies on the back nine, none bigger than a 12-footer on the par-3 17th to give her a cushion going to the final hole. She needed only two putts from 30 feet to win, and the pace was perfect, just like every shot she hit down the stretch.