News

Kang edges Boutier to capture first title of LPGA return

August 3, 2020 03:49 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

Danielle Kang held off France's Celine Boutier over the final holes Sunday to win the LPGA Drive On Championship, the tour's first tournament since February after a COVID-19 shutdown.

It was the fourth career title for the 27-year-old American, whose first win was a major, the 2017 Women's PGA Championship, and whose other two came at Shanghai in 2018 and 2019. "I worked really hard for the last seven months," Kang said. "I'm really excited right now."

Kang fired a two-under par 70 to finish 54 holes at Iverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on 7-under 209, one shot better than Boutier, who missed a four-foot birdie putt on the last hole that would have forced a playoff.

Boutier was alone in second after a closing 71 with Australian Minjee Lee third on 212, Japan's Yui Kawamoto fourth on 213 and England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff fifth on 214 after a closing 75. The LPGA managed to play only two events in January in the United States and two more in February in Australia before the season was stopped by the global pandemic.

The comeback event, played without spectators on the host course for next year's Solheim Cup team matches between US and European teams, was played ahead of next week's LPGA Marathon Classic in nearby Sylvania so players could stay in the same area for both events, easing concerns about contracting the deadly virus.

The LPGA return came with safeguards and social distancing protocols that were apparent on the 18th green as Kang celebrated her victory. Friends wearing masks poured champagne on Kang while she made hugging gestures with her arms, in place of the embraces that would have followed the victory before the virus outbreak.

Kang birdied the par-5 second and par-4 fourth to grab an early edge over Boutier, who shared the lead with Kang and Shadoff when the day began but fell three adrift after a bogey at the par-3 fifth. Boutier matched a Kang birdie at the par-4 11th, then birdied the par-3 12th, watched Kang bogey the par-5 13th, and birdied the par-4 14th to grab a share of the lead and all of the momentum.

Kang missed an eight-foot birdie putt at 15 but Boutier lipped out a six-foot par putt, the ball hitting the left edge and staying out for a bogey that put Kang back in front. At the par-4 18th, Kang had a 12-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory but missed and settled for her fifth par in a row to close out the round.

Boutier had a chance at a birdie to force a playoff, but her putt lipped off the left edge and she settled for par and second place. "I think just keeping patience and trusting all aspects of your golf game brings it out in your golf game," Kang said. "You have got to respect the golf course. Even little putts I didn't take it for granted."



Most Read

  1. 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge
  2. Daughters defend Bushra Bibi Daughters defend Bushra Bibi
  3. Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction
  4. Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off
  5. The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed! The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed!
  6. And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans

Opinion

  1. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  2. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  3. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  4. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  5. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  6. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai