Jutanugarn takes over as World No 1 after Lexi wobbles down the stretch
Last week a computer glitch kept Lydia Ko at World No 1, this week we will see Ariya Jutanugarn take over after she won the Manulife Classic.
The Thai star rolled in a 25-foot to take advantage of Lexi Thompson’s late blips to claim her first win of the season – so far in 2017 there have been 14 different winners in 14 events.
Thompson seemed to have the title in the bag but her bogey at the 12th, her first since the 15th on Thursday, led to a stream of dropped shots. She came to the 72nd hole with two putts for the win but shoved her second effort wide.
One hole later Jutanugarn sunk Thompson and Korean In Gee Chun with her putt from distance which dropped in at pace.
That. Winning. Putt. Ariya @Jutanugarn #Playoff #ManulifeClassic pic.twitter.com/Y8VBYu3YE7
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 11, 2017
“I just can’t believe I win the tournament,” Jutanugarn said. “I didn’t expect anything at all because, when I got here, I didn’t feel comfortable with my swing. My tee shot not that good. I feel like, `Just go out and play golf for four days.’”
Thompson had been four clear, and two with two to play, but her short irons and putting then let her down.
“I just struggled with the putter. I made everything, it seemed like, all week, and then, the last three holes, I had like a 5-footer, 6-footer, and about a 4-footer and missed them all.
“I know where my game is at. Every time I tee it up, I know I’m trying to win, and I know I have a good chance of it.”
England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff had a strange final round, bogeying three of the first seven holes but she then closed out the front nine with a birdie and eagle and birdied the last for a 69 and fourth place on her own.
