Patty Tavatanakit, led the debate from start to finish, to win the first Major of the LPGA season, resisting the onslaught of New Zealander Lydia Ko, author of a sumptuous -10. The 21-year-old Thai wins the first victory of her young career over the ANA Inspiration on Sunday in Rancho Mirage (California). Céline Boutier, the only Frenchwoman to pass the cut ends in the 50th par.

Ana Inspiration: Victorious Patty Tavanatakit resists Lydia Ko's assault

Ana Inspiration: Victorious Patty Tavanatakit resists Lydia Ko's assault - LPGA Photo @ANAinspiration

Even history couldn't stop Patty Tavatanakit on Sunday at ANA Inspiration. Lydia Ko played one of the biggest final rounds in LPGA Major Championship history on the Dinah Shore tournament course at Mission Hills Country Club, but it wasn't enough to unsettle a dominant Tavatanakit.

The 21-year-old rookie star from Thailand and UCLA won the first Major of the season, retaining the lead from start to finish for his first win on the LPGA Tour. Starting the final round with a five-stroke lead, Tavatanakit did whatever she needed on a hot, windless day at Rancho Mirage to hold on to the win.

The winner's jump in Poppie's Pond. -

« It's great to be a great champion, ”said Tavatanakit after taking the winner's jump in Poppie's Pond.."

But the heroism of a former world number one Lydia Ko, kept the Shore Course in suspense with a tie record in the tournament in one incredible round of 62 (-10), breaking the tournament record in the process. 29 on the first nine holes while questioning the outcome of the game until late in the day. Ko was finally only able to get closer to Tavatanakit on two hits.

Tavatanakit's 68 (-4) card on Sunday for a total of 270 (-18) less than the tournament record of 19 under the par set in 1999 by Dottie Pepper.

“For some reason I'm still calm,” Tavatanakit said. “There is a calm in me. I do not know why. Like I said, I just wanted to be done.

Tavatanakit said the victory allowed him to achieve his own goal of winning this year, but also his father's goal of making his daughter a place in the top 100 of the Rolex World Ranking. With a 103rd place finish, Tavatanakit has the best result of all ANA Inspiration winners since the start of the standings.

Tavatanakit also insisted that she never knew what Ko was doing in front of her, instead focusing on her own game. And even though she said she didn't putt well, Tavatanakit said her 4 under 68 was always a good ride.

Lydia Ko finished 16 under on par, threatening the record of signing the second 59 in LPGA history to a six-par run on the final seven holes.

At cruising speed for the last 18 holes
While Ko's turn made the tournament thrilling on Sunday afternoon, the reality is that Tavatanakit had been in control of the tournament from the first round.It became evident from the second hole when Tavatanakit's second shot on the par-5 for the eagle ( -3) which seemed to put an end to any hope of the pursuers for the day by giving him a brief seven strokes lead. A birdie on the eighth par 3 put Tavatanakit at -17.

What Tavatanakit didn't know was that Ko enjoyed the lead with an exceptional 29 (-7) on the first nine holes. This included a birdie-eagle tee-off and four more birdies on the next seven holes. After starting the day with eight shots, Ko suddenly came back within three lengths of the leader.

Ko 23 years old, ex world number 1, 15 times winner on the LPGA circuit, who has not won since 2018, declared " I don't think it was like there was a specific moment where I was like, okay, this is going to be the right time ”“ Especially around a course like this, you just have to concentrate until the last putt falls in the last hole. »

Birdies at the 10th and 11th holes put Ko back in the race to -15 and just two points behind Tavatanakit, but Ko's impressive streak then slowed down.

Tavatanakit, on the other hand, went down to -18 with a 30-inch birdie putt.

As she finished with six straight pars, Tavatanakit saved two critical pars on 14 and 17, missing the green on both par 3s but making delicate approaches on both holes.

With a two putt on the last hole, Ko tied Lorena Ochoa's Shore Course 62 in the ANA Inspiration first round in 2006. Ko suddenly fell short of the all-time LPGA Major Championship record. of 61, established during the Evian Championship 2014 by Hyo Joo Kim.

Céline Boutier 50th

The only Frenchwoman to have passed the cut, Céline Boutier finished as the day before in the par and is ranked in 50th position, 18 strokes behind the winner.

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