Lindberg outlasts Park to claim first major title
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Pernilla Lindberg plunged into Poppie’s Pond with her parents and fiance-caddie Daniel Taylor, celebrating her first professional victory in about the biggest way possible in women’s golf.
“I can’t believe that I can call myself a major champion,” Lindberg said.
It wasn’t easy.
The 31-year-old Swede needed a major-record eight sudden-death holes over two days to finish off Inbee Park in the ANA Inspiration, ending it Monday morning with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 10th.
“I just know I’m a grinder, and I just felt : ‘This is mine.
I’m going to do this,’” Lindberg said. “I just knew I could, and I just kept fighting away. I couldn’t believe when that last putt went in.”
Park’s 20-footer to match missed to the left.
“The putt Pernilla made on the last was a champion’s putt,” Park, a former Bishop Gorman standout, said. “I’m really happy for her. This one was not an easy major win for her, as well. I mean, eight-hole playoff, I’ve never done something like that before, either.”
They played four holes Monday after going until it was too dark to see Sunday night.
Lindberg won in her 250th start on the LPGA, Ladies European and Symetra tours, sharing the moment with father Jan and mother Gunilla. They introduced her to golf at Bollnas Golf Club about 150 miles north of Stockholm.
“It’s so cool,” Lindberg said. “The only reason I’m playing golf is because of them. I’m so happy they’re here. I’ve probably given my dad I don’t know how many heart attacks over the last few days.”
At Augusta, Ga., the roar sounded like Sunday at Augusta National.
This was Monday afternoon, and it was so sudden and thunderous that it reached the clubhouse. It was loud enough
Masters —
to startle spectators who wondered what they had missed. They had a pretty good idea who it was.
Tiger Woods is back at the Masters.
Woods teed off with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples shortly before 3 p.m., when thousands of fans were making their way toward the exit. Thousands more crowded around the tee, lined the first fairway and followed him down the par-5 second hole. Some of them rushed over to the third hole to stake out a spot. Most of them surrounded the second green, and they were responsible for all the noise when Woods chipped in from behind the green.
Any talk about this being one of the most anticipated Masters in years starts with one player. Woods is at Augusta National for the first time since 2015, at least with his golf clubs, and he showed during the Florida swing of the PGA Tour that he is more than capable of winning a fifth green jacket.
“When Tiger walked onto the range today, you can tell there’s an anticipation and an excitement from the crowd to watch him compete again,” Justin Rose said.