Havre De Grace, MD--
She may be just 19 years old, but today under sweltering conditions, LPGA rookie Yani Tseng proved that she is name that will be reckoned with in the future as she defeated Maria Hjorth in a sudden-death playoff that lasted four holes.
"I can't believe I just won a major," Tseng said. "Everything is coming so fast."
As the afternoon progressed and the temperatures began to rise, it was a battle on the back nine between four players. Both Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa teetered back and forth with the lead at 11 and 12 under and then it was Hjorth that climbed into the drivers seat forcing the playoff.
Ochoa who seemed the clear favorite to win the major today just could not find her best golf that she had both Friday and Saturday. She struggled with her putts today and just could not find a way to pull away on the back nine.
Ochoa ended her inconsistencies on the 16th hole when she hit a 20-yard pitch for eagle that banged off the pin, and a birdie on the final hole only made it look close. She closed with a 71 and wound up one shot behind.
Hjorth who looked if she was going to take the title after the first sudden death hole seemed to just run of out gas on the fourth and final hole of the day.
"I don't think it's really hit me, but I'm sure I'm going to be very, very tired pretty soon," Hjorth said. "But I'm very happy with the day. I played solid golf all day, and just very proud of myself for hanging in there."
As for Sorenstam, she had plenty of opportunities on the front nine, but managed to just stay even with Ochoa and Hjorth. She continued at the 12 under pace until she reached the back nine and both players remained deadlocked.
"I left a lot of shots out there," Sorenstam said. "I wish I could have converted one or two; it would have been enough. But I didn't."
Laura Diaz who finished the final round with a 70 was one birdie away from the lead throughout the back nine until a three-putt bogey on the 17th. She finished fifth.
"I thought I played very well and mistake free and when I bogeyed on the 17th, I knew I had lost the chance to take the lead. I am happy with the way I played today and that I stayed in contention right to the very end, said Diaz.
