Pettersen's majestic performance leaves rest of the field trailing

GOLF/WOMEN'S IRISH OPEN:SUZANN PETTERSEN, the world's number three ranked player, suffers from acrophobia.

You wouldn’t have thought it here at Killeen Castle in Co Meath yesterday, as the 30-year-old Norwegian scaled the heights – again – in the Ladies Irish Open. She followed up Saturday’s course record 63 with a final round 64 for 198, 18-under-par, to finish a runaway six shots clear of her nearest pursuer, Spain’s Azahara Munoz Guijarro.

On a day that mixed some light rain showers with patches of glorious sunshine, Pettersen’s on-course consistency was at odds with the weather. On this day, she was imperious, producing one brilliant shot after another that landed her a second Irish Open – adding to the title won at Portmarnock Links in 2008 – and, generally produced a huge feel-good vibe ahead of next month’s Solheim Cup at the same venue.

In a classic case of last shall be first, Pettersen – the very last player to register for the event, only coming in on Thursday evening from her native Norway and missing out on the pre-tournament pro-am – displayed a familiarity with the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that was quite remarkable.

“It’s been a short week, (with the) late arrival, and a great result. I really liked the way this course was playing when it was firmer and I played great. My putter was hot . . . there’s no nicer feeling than when you have everything under control with two or three holes to play,” said Pettersen, who sealed an automatic place on Alison Nicholas’s European team for that upcoming match with holders the United States.

This was an exhibition from Pettersen, who only made a late decision to add the Irish Open to her schedule to ensure she reached the required number of tournaments on the LET for Solheim Cup qualification.

In the side battle for the leading amateur prize, Leona Maguire finished ahead of twin sister Lisa. To do so, however, Leona had to produce something special. And she did, holing her tee shot on the 155-yard par three sixth hole – where she hit a six-iron – for an early momentum boost.

“I’ve had nine holes-in-one in practice, but this is my first in a tournament . . . overall, I’m happy enough. I played solid all week but didn’t hole that many putts. My game is in good shape going into the British Strokeplay in two weeks time,” she said, after a final round 72 for 217, one over.

Unfortunately for Lisa Maguire, her round unravelled around the turn where a run of bogey-bogey-triple bogey from the eighth led to a closing 79 for 218, two-over.

“Tomorrow is another day,” said a philosophical Lisa. “I struggled a bit, and nothing went right. A lot of putts sat on the edge, went by the edge, went around the hole. I went out to shoot a couple under and it didn’t work out that way.”

For Martina Gillen, the third Irish player to make the cut, and the only professional of the trio, it proved to be an even more exasperating final day.

The Dubliner – who hadn’t played a tournament in six weeks due to limited opportunities with the status of her card – was disqualified after taking an incorrect drop on the par three 16th.

“An illegal drop I guess on 16,” remarked Gillen, adding: “I carried the hazard but it fell back in and I dropped it at the green. I asked my playing partner (Caroline Masson) and she said, ‘yes, you drop at the green’ . . . that’s life, I can’t do anything about it really. I should have known the rule. It’s just a mistake really.”

Pettersen, who started the final round tied with Dutch player Dewi Claire Schreefel, moved into a world of her own.

As Schreefel fell away, eventually signing for a 77 for 211 that left her in tied-16th, the Norwegian – claiming her fifth career win on the LET – finished six shots clear of Munoz with Galway-born Alison Walshe, representing the USA, finished tied-third with England’s Melissa Reid.

Walshe, who is juggling playing both the LPGA Tour in the States and the LET on this side of the Atlantic, bounced back from a double-bogey six on the 17th to roll in a birdie putt on the 18th to secure her high finish.

“I love it here, and the plan is to keep my European tour (card). My main priority now is the LPGA, because it is home and what not, but I definitely want to keep my status over here. I enjoy it over here, it is a blast,” said the Irish-American, who lives in Boston.

On this day, though, there was no-one to compare with Pettersen who claimed the title in style with a final round that produced eight birdies and not a single bogey.

“This is one of those weeks when I just go out and play my own game. I didn’t even have my own caddie. It was a step-in caddie (Mike Scott from Glasgow) so it was like a good week that I didn’t plan to play.

“This course showed itself from a different perspective and I’m very happy.”

She’ll be back soon, as the on-course leader of Europe’s Solheim Cup bid. What better way to return than as a runaway winner on the same course?