ANNA GETS THE PARTY STARTED…
Nordqvist ends wait for title
ANNA NORDQVIST finally had her tartan celebration by winning the AIG Women’s Open – a year after her wedding in Scotland was postponed because of Covid-19.
The Swede, 34, won her third Major title by a shot at Carnoustie – and she celebrated her “most special” victory with a hug with her Scottish husband, former amateur Kevin McAlpine.
The couple had been due to tie the knot in Scotland last year but the pandemic delayed it.They were married in March in Arizona as friends and family watched on Zoom.
Nordqvist said: “We have postponed our real wedding, the one with our friends and family, to next summer. It will be about 20 minutes away from here in a castle. I can’t wait to walk down the aisle in Scotland.”
Overnight leaders Norqvist and Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen were locked together on the 18th tee. But Madsen found a greenside bunker and shanked her recovery to record a double-bogey six.
Nordqvist, who carded a 69 to finish 12 under, had gone nearly four years without a win after contracting mononucleosis in 2017. She said after receiving the record $870,000 first prize: “I’ve been waiting for this for a while. There have been a lot of downs since then, which makes it even sweeter.
“My husband, Kevin, lives 20 minutes from here and this place is truly special. This is the most special one.”
The 2018 champion Georgia Hall, above, shot 67 to finish tied second, while
Scotland’s Louise Duncan was top amatuer in tied 10th.
European captain Catriona Matthew names her wild cards for the Solheim Cup today.
American Johannes Veerman won his first European Tour title at the D+D Real
Czech Masters by two shots after Henrik Stenson found the water on 16. But the Swede’s fourth place was his first top-10 finish for two years.
The final round of the Northern Trust will be played today after Tropical Storm Henri halted play yesterday.