Webb nets title for third time

WOMEN'S GOLF: A clutch of fresh new names had crammed the top of the leaderboard after the third round, but it was the experienced Karrie Webb who nudged her way to the top when it mattered most. With a stunning final round of six-under 66 for 15-under 273, the Australian yesterday became the first three-time winner of the Women's British Open at Turnberry, picking up £155,000 in the process.

Victor as a rookie at Woburn in 1995 and then at Sunningdale two years later, Webb will have taken even more satisfaction from this triumph in that the championship is now classed as a major. It was last year that it replaced the now defunct du Maurier Classic.

And so Webb, who completed a career grand slam of the four majors at last year's McDonald's LPGA Championship, is the first to complete a super career grand slam of the five different major championships available in her career. In fact, it is her sixth major in just four years.

With 15 players within four shots of leaders Carin Koch and Jenny Rosales, the final day always promised to be a thriller, and even dank and dismal weather could not put a dampener on the climax to the first women's major to be staged here.

Webb brightened the day with a flawless performance. She had the lead by the time she made her fourth birdie of the day at the 10th, and two more, at the 12th and 17th, made for an enjoyable walk down the 18th fairway. In the end, she won by two from Spain's Paula Marti, who had a 69, and fellow Australian Michelle Ellis who posted a 68.

The one blight on the championship denouement for home fans was the lack of British interest; Penny Grice-Whittaker, back in 1991, remains the last home winner.

Two Scots, Kathryn Marshall, who closed with a 72, and Catriona Matthew, with a 75, were the best placed, but in a distant tie for 35th, and 16 shots adrift of Webb.

For Webb, winning on these shores is becoming a habit, and she was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of her childhood idol, Greg Norman, who won his first Open Championship over these same Ayrshire links back in 1986.

The fact that she had bounced back from the huge disappointment of missing the cut as the two-time defending champion at last month's US Open added to the pleasure.

"It was great to withstand the pressure of the weekend," said the 27-year-old, who started the final round three off the lead. "This is definitely one of my greatest moments. Turnberry is a great course and has produced so many great champions."

By her own high standards, the Queenslander has not enjoyed the best of seasons. "But I've continued to work hard and it's paid off this week," said the former world number one. "Hopefully, this is the start to a great end to the season."

For 22-year-old Marti, the second place assured her of a berth on the European team to defend the Solheim Cup at Interlachen in Minnesota next month.

"This is a dream come true," said the player who won the Italian Open and British Masters as a rookie last year. "To finish second in a major and get into the Solheim all at one go is just awesome."

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