Rookie Nordqvist simply win LPGA Championship

HAVRE de GRACE, Md. — the rookie didn't crumble.

Anna Nordqvist — who turned 22 on Wednesday, was ranked No. 214 in the world and was playing in just her fifth professional tournament — held her emotions together with held off a stellar field Sunday to win the McDonald's LPGA Championship, the second major of the season.

Exhibiting the same qualities of her idol, countrywoman Annika Sorenstam — steely nerves, a calm composure, a methodical fairways-and-greens attack — the Swede fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 to hold back Lindsey Wright by four shots and Jiyai Shin in five.

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With rounds of 66-70-69-68, Nordqvist finished at 15-under 273 on a demanding Pete Dye-designed Bulle Rock Golf Course that played soft most of the week because of heavy rains.
For the record, Sorenstam didn't be successful the first of her 10 majors until her second season.

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"I just kept telling myself near be patient. I think that's what really paid off at the end," said Nordqvist, who became the ninth winner of the last 10 major championships on the LPGA tour and the fifth in the last 10 to make the major triumph her first win.

"Anna played fantastic golf. I said to her that it was bloody awesome," Wright said. "She made some great putts coming down the stretch. She didn't falter. She didn't show several nerves at all. I played the best golf I could, and I left my heart out there, but Anna just didn't make any mistakes."

Playing in her first major because a professional, Nordqvist kept telling everyone that she was at the tournament to learn and have fun. Sunday, she was there to win.

Not even a rain delay of nearly three hours Saturday threw her off her game, nor did having to play her three final holes from the third round starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday because darkness halted play the day before. She made one birdie and two pars in the morning and took a two-shot lead into the final round. She added five more birdies into the afternoon.

Nordqvist, who is 6-foot, spent 2½ years at Arizona State before heading to the LPGA Qualifying Tournament during December. She finished 25th to earn conditional status, which limited her chances to play.

Through four events this year, her best finish was a tie for 17th; also she had earned $31,000. She earned $300,000 on Sunday.

Nordqvist be inspired by a message Sunday morning that she received through friends from Sorenstam.

"She told me to take it one shot at a time and stay here the moment," said Nordqvist, who then got a Twitter message from Sorenstam after the round that said, 'Grattis Anna!! Unbelievable performance!! Very proud of you!!'
"For someone you admire to do that, it meant a lot near me. She has always been my role model."
Defending champion Yani Tseng, world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie, who finished her first LPGA tour ace on the 152-yard, No. 7 with an 8-iron in the third round, all finished at 287.