American Vu is in Major heaven
PLAYOFF: HOLDS HER NERVE TO CAPTURE CHEVRON TITLE
American Lilia Vu won her first Major title on Sunday, defeating compatriot Angel Yin with a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the LPGA Chevron Championship.
In the year’s first women’s golf Major, Vu and Yin each finished 72 holes on 10-under par 278 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature course at The Woodlands near Houston, Texas.
Vu, who birdied 17 and 18 to grab the clubhouse lead, was forced to extra holes when Yin birdied 18 as well.
But Yin found water on her approach in the playoff and Vu sank a tension-packed 14-foot birdie putt for the victory.
“I can’t even put into words what I was feeling,” Vu said. “I was nervous. I was scared. I was cold. I just wanted to hit the putt and just be done with it.
“I just saw my line and speed. I knew it was going to be a fast putt and trusted myself.”
Moments after making the winning putt, Vu followed a tournament tradition that began at its former home in California of jumping into water, taking her plunge into the chilly greenside lake where Yin’s ball sank earlier.
“I had a tough, not easy, past two days,” Vu said. “I was definitely my own enemy. I don’t know how I pulled this out. I’m just really happy and proud.”
Vu fired a four-under 68 and set the score to beat. Yin unraveled with bogeys at 16 and 17 but sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five 18th to shoot 72 and force the playoff.
Vu had considered giving up golf years before, but said after the win that “everything happens for a reason.” And for all the bad things she has faced she added: “I think of myself as the biggest obstacle.”
World No 12 Vu won the $765 000 top prize in only her ninth Major start. The 25-yearold American won her first LPGA title in February in Thailand and becomes the tour’s first multi-event winner this year.
She is the 21st player to claim her first Major title at the event. –