Ariya first Thai to claim LPGA crown

Ariya first Thai to claim LPGA crown

Bangkok native endsstring of heartbreaks

PRATTVILLE: Ariya Jutanugarn claimed the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic title on Sunday to become the first Thai champion on the women's top tour.

Having suffered several heartbreak finishes, the 20-year-old from Bangkok was shaking over her final five-foot putt, with personal, Thailand and LPGA Tour history on the line.

She made it anyway as she shot an even-par 71 on the Senator Course at Capitol Hill in Alabama for a four-day total of 274 to beat South Korea's Amy Yang and Americans Stacy Lewis and Morgan Pressel by a stroke.

"Last putt my hands shake, my legs shake," Ariya said. "I've had that before but I have not had it this bad before. My putter's shaking, and I'm like, OK just go out from here."

"It's nice," Ariya said of being the first Thai winner on the LPGA Tour. "I'm really happy. I'm pretty sure a lot players from Thailand are gonna win soon and second and third is going to be coming and coming."

Her mom Narumon, along with sister Moriya who was tied for 63rd in the event, was on hand to celebrate on the US Mother's Day. The Thai Mother's Day is Aug 12.

"Thank you for my mom for being with me all the time to support me and happy Mother's Day," said Ariya who took home US$195,000 (about 6.8 million baht) in prize money.

"You know, she is my everything, like my sister. They're great support. Right now we just travel together and have so much fun. I had a hard time last year. I missed 10 cuts in a row, but the good thing was my mom and my sister always trust in me.

"My mom asked me when are you going to play good? Why are you not playing good? The only thing she told me was to keep fighting and that I'm going to be good."

Ariya burst onto the international scene when she qualified for the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand at age 11, making her the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.

At the Yokohama event, Ariya started the fourth round with a three-stroke lead and despite a roller-coaster ride she managed four birdies and three bogeys on Sunday, a day after tying the tournament record with a 63.

The long hitter gave cheering fans a wave and smile as she approached the final green, chipping to five feet to set up a par putt.

Yang bogeyed the 17th hole for a 67, Lewis shot her third straight 68, while Pressel also had a 68.

Ariya two-putted from about eight feet on the 17, dropping a stroke from her lead with Lewis and Pressel on the final hole and Yang waiting and hoping to make a play-off.

Ariya's drive on the final hole went into the left rough and her second shot didn't make the green but landed above the bunker.

There was plenty of drama but no ending collapse this time.

At last month's ANA Inspiration, she had a two-stroke lead with three holes left and closed with three bogeys to finish fourth -- two strokes behind winner Lydia Ko of New Zealand in the major championship.

In the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand at age 17, Ariya blew a two-stroke lead with a closing triple bogey in a one-stroke loss to South Korea's Park In-Bee.

Last year, she lost in a play-off in Bahamas.

Ariya handled the pressure from an array of challengers better this time.

"This tournament was very different than ANA," Ariya said. "Because first hole of this tournament I'm very excited and very nervous because I [have a] three-shot lead, and ANA [I was] one shot behind."

A bogey on the 12th pushed Ariya out of the lead and forced her to regroup.

"I wake up after 12 because my caddie [Les Luark] turned around and told me 'Mae [her nickname], you play golf like you didn't sleep last night. Wake up and make some birdies and you will be fine.'

"He told me 'I don't care if you shoot 80, 90, you are gonna lose this tournament, whatever, but better to fight and pay attention to every shot,' and that's what woke me up."

Following the pep talk from her caddie, Ariya bounced back with a tap-in birdie on the 13th. Another fine approach shot and tap-in birdie on the 14th gave her a two-shot lead which she never relinquished.

"Today I just feel like, three-shot lead, and I badly want to win my first tournament," she said. agencies/bangkok post

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