Tseng beats out Pettersen for Kraft Nabisco title
Yani Tseng eagled the second hole and pulled ahead of a star-studded field with a 4-under-par 68 to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Sunday for her second major title.
Tseng, of Taiwan, finished at 13-under 275 at Mission Hills to hold off Suzann Pettersen by one stroke. Two of Tseng's three LPGA Tour victories have been majors - she won the 2008 LPGA Championship as a rookie, outlasting Maria Hjorth in a four-hole playoff.
Tseng started the day tied with Pettersen (69), one stroke behind Karen Stupples (78), but chipped in for eagle on the 521-yard, par-5 second.
Stupples birdied No. 2, but Tseng took the lead with a birdie on the par-4 third that put her at 12 under.
After that, "I knew today's going to be my day," Tseng said.
"Yani got off to a flying start," Pettersen said. "She played great today and she deserved to win."
Pettersen's eagle chip on 18 stopped just a few inches from the hole, and Tseng tapped in for par on the final hole for the title. She then took the traditional plunge into Champion's Lake with several friends.
Pettersen had several chances to reel in her friend on the back nine with birdie chances on Nos. 13 through 16. The only birdie putt that fell in the stretch was at 16, leaving her two shots behind Tseng.
It was another agonizingly close finish for Pettersen in this tournament. She tied for second in 2007 and '08, and tied for fifth last year.
"Yeah, just collect them up," Pettersen said. "It's starting to feel like it owes me one very soon."
Kim wins at HoustonAnthony Kim made par on the first playoff hole to win the Houston Open and deny Vaughn Taylor a trip home to play in the Masters. Kim, who had a chance to win in regulation until missing a 6-foot par putt, closed with a 70.
It was a crushing loss for Taylor, who grew up in Augusta, Ga. The Houston Open was the last chance to qualify for the Masters, and Taylor gave himself a chance by making an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 68, then getting into a playoff when Kim made bogey.
They played No. 18 again in the playoff, and Kim hit his approach into 30 feet for a two-putt par. Taylor's tee shot found a bunker, his approach went into a greenside bunker, and he missed an 18-foot par putt.- AP
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