England’s Hall survives British Open duel
Named in honor of a famous Masters victory for Englishman Nick Faldo in 1996, Georgia Hall has her hands on one of the big trophies in women’s golf at the age of 22.
The Englishwoman reeled in longtime leader Pornanong Phatlum in a gripping finalround duel at Royal Lytham to win the Women’s British Open for her first major title yesterday in Lytham St.Annes, England.
Hall tapped in for a bogey — her first of the day — at the last hole to clinch a 2-shot victory over Phatlum. Hall then hugged her playing partner from Thailand before being lifted off her feet by her caddie, father Wayne.
Hall’s round of 5-underpar 67, which included six birdies, saw her finish on 17-under 271.
Hall, who receives a check of $490,000, became the first English major winner since Karen Stupples won this event in 2004, and the fourth overall along with Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas.
Hall took the outright lead for the first time in the event after a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 16th hole and went to the last with a 3-shot lead after Phatlum, ranked No.97 and also seeking her first major and LPGA title, missed a 2-foot putt to make double-bogey at No. 17.
So-yeon Ryu of South Korea was third on 13-under after a final-round 70.
Putnam gets paid
Andrew Putnam won the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nev., for his first PGA Tour title, holding off Chad Campbell by four points in the modified Stableford scoring event.
Putnam closed with a 22foot birdie putt from off the front of the green on the par-5 18th when a bogey would have been enough for the breakthrough victory at Montreux Golf and Country Club. He had nine points in the round and 47 overall.
Putnam earned $612,000, a two-year tour exemption and a spot next week in the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. The 29-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., also jumped from 55th to 31st in the FedEx Cup standings.
Monday qualifier John Oda tied for third with J.J. Spaun, with 38 points.
Third 3M for Perry
Kenny Perry won the 3M Championship for a third and last time, closing with a 3-under 69 for a 3-stroke victory in the PGA Tour Champions event in Blaine, Minn., that is being replaced by the PGA Tour’s 3M Open.
Five shots ahead after rounds of 66 and 60, Perry finished at 21-under 195. Perry won his 10th senior title and first since the 2017 U.S. Senior Open. Wes Short Jr. was second after a 63. Tom Gillis (67) and Glen Day (70) tied for third at 15-under . . . .
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar held out a record-breaking charge from Australian Anthony Quale to win the Fiji International in Sigatoka, Fiji, by a stroke, while Ernie Els shot a 7-under 65 to finish another stroke behind.