Mirim Lee wins the playoffs in the wild final at ANA Inspiration

RANCHO MIRAGE, California – Mirim Lee chipped three times on Sunday, the last one for the eagle in the last hole which took her to a three-man playoff at ANA Inspiration which she won on the first extra hole with a bird.

It was another wild finish in the LPGA major that went from the first weekend of April to the 100-degree heat of September, and no one was more surprised than 29-year-old Lee.

She was never in the lead at any point until she calmly placed a 5 foot birdie putt on the 18th to beat Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson, who each held the lead over the back nine.

Lee went long range for the par 16, dropped a shot in the next hole and appeared to be out until his chip from behind the 18th green slammed into the pin and fell for the eagle and a 5-under 67.

Korda, the 22-year-old American looking for her first major, had a 2-shot lead with four holes to play and couldn’t keep it. With a 1-shot lead that goes to par 18th par 5, Korda missed the fairway, had to lay up and missed the green on the right, having to scramble for par and a 69 just to equal Lee at 15-under 273.

Henderson lost the lead with a double bugbear on the 13th hole that nearly cost her. But she teased on the 16th and was saved by the wall, a blue-covered structure behind the 18th that prevented her second shot of the 18th from running across the green and into the water behind the island green.

He had ups and downs for the little bird and a 69 to join the playoffs.

On the first extra hole, Korda missed the fairway again and had to lie down, and her wedge was 25 feet short for a birdie putt that never had a chance. Henderson’s second shot was short, and he used the putter for his eagle attempt which rolled about 7 feet past the cup on Mission Hills’ sunny and fast greens. His putt birdie missed on the left side.

Lee hit 5-wood just above the back of the putting surface, chipped at 5 feet and made the winner.

Even with world number 1 Jin Young Ko and US Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 left home due to travel problems during the coronavirus pandemic, Lee has outdone a South Korean player who won for 10 consecutive years. a major.

It was his fourth LPGA Tour win, and it was the first since the Kia Classic three years ago.

His win spared further conversation about the blue wall behind the 18th green, which the tournament erected in place of a hospitality chalet that was unnecessary this year as there were no spectators.

There has been talk all week, and the chalet in a normal year has blocked too hard blows. But he almost decided the tournament. Henderson was 1 shot behind with his ball sitting on the rough on 18th in regulation. He hit 5-wood across the green and under the blue bunting, allowing for a fall.

He chipped up to 2 feet for the little bird to join the playoffs three.

Henderson needed a break after spending the last hour trying to reach Korda. The Canadian took her only advantage on the 12th hole when Korda bogeyed, and it didn’t last long.

Henderson drove into the rough on the right 13th and the 6 iron in the wrong place – right again, with a bunker guarding the right front pin. He threw her in the bunker and didn’t get up and down, leading to a double bugbear.

Korda responded with a 5-foot birdie tee shot on par-3 14th, and suddenly her lead was 2. But she couldn’t resist. Henderson’s 8-foot birdie putt curled into the left side of the cup on No. 16 with perfect speed. Korda held the lead in 17th with an 8 foot par putt, and this kicked off the big finish in 18th.

In all of this, Lee was an afterthought to his splendid conclusion.

He’s already chipped for the short bird on the green at number 6. Lee took a chance by throwing from less than sixteenth green to a rear pivot. And after a bugbear on the 17th, she went long on the 18th and took part in the eagle, lowering her head with a tender incredulous smile.

Lexi Thompson, looking for a second title at Mission Hills, has never been a serious factor after bogeys slowing her momentum. He finished with two birds in the last three holes for a 69 to finish 2 shots out of the playoffs.

American amateur champion Rose Zhang took 18th for a 72 that equalized for 11th. He finished with 8-under 280, setting the lowest scoring record by an amateur.