KERR STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THAT PUTT
Through the entire media whirlwind that follows Cristie Kerr’s dramatic win, she kept going back to one moment – that putt.
For a woman long known for her putting prowess, Kerr’s 36-footer for birdie to win the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia was perhaps one of the most dramatic moments in her spectacular 20-year career.
“When I hit it, I could just tell it was going in,” said Kerr, who moved into fifth in the Race to the CME Globe standing with her win. “I could just tell it was going in. It was the most amazing thing. Like it was perfect speed; if it missed, it was going to be two feet by. It was right in the center never even thought about missing.”
While waiting for photographers to line up for her post-tournament photo obligations at No. 18, Kerr paced off the putt again, just to make sure it was for real. She and caddie Brady Stockton continually marveled at the brilliance of that moment.
“I knew it was going to be like a five-way playoff,” said Kerr, who knew exactly where she stood thanks to the monsterboard adjacent to the 18th green. “I was just like, got to do it. Got to do it. I was just, the only thing I could control was trusting my line and hitting the putt with the speed to make it, and I did it.”
Making the day even better was the fact that Kerr, a long-time breast-cancer awareness advocate, won an event that is so inextricably linked to Cancer Research Malaysia.
“I love the work that they do and I’ve supported the charity forever,” said Kerr. “I haven’t been here in a few years due to scheduling. But you know, going to see the hospital center and what they do and how much money they spend on women and families getting more awareness to this disease is pretty unbelievable. I’m going to be making a donation. I haven’t wrapped my head around how much yet because this has been so crazy since the last putt, but we’ll be making a donation to the charity.”
FENG CONTINUES AMAZING SIME DARBY RUN
With her second-place showing this week, Shanshan Feng continued her amazing run of success at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. With her wins in 2014 and 2016 to go with her runner-up finishes in 2013, 2015 and 2017, Feng is undoubtedly the queen of TPC Kuala Lumpur.
“I think second is still not a bad finish here, and I’m still keeping my record pretty good here in Malaysia,” said Feng, who joked pre-tournament that she wanted a membership card to the lovely Malaysian layout. “So it goes 2-1-2-1-2; I’ll come back next year and see if I can keep it up.”
OH SO CLOSE FOR CONCOLINO
Jacqui Concolino watched Cristie Kerr make her winning birdie from the practice putting green, where she and Danielle Kang were waiting for a potential playoff. Minutes earlier, Concolino lipped out a 10-footer of her own that would have pushed her into the lead with Kerr looking at bogey on 17.
“I’m obviously excited to be in the position I was,” said Concolino, who earned a career-best runner-up finish, tied with Danielle Kang and Shanshan Feng. “Cristie making the putt on the last hole is kind of inevitable I guess. It was a great experience this week. Absolutely loved every second of it.”
QUICK HITS
Cristie Kerr was playing in her fifth Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia and first since 2013; her best finish was eighth in 2010
Shanshan Feng is one of the nine players to have played in all seven previous Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia events; she is the 2014 and 2016 champion, and was runner-up in 2013 and 2015
Danielle Kang was playing in her sixth Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia; her best previous finish was T7 in 2016
Jacqui Concolino was playing in her second Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia; she finished 70th in 2013
Play was suspended at 12:38 p.m. due to dangerous conditions and resumed at 1:46 p.m.
Ashleigh Buhai withdrew during the round, citing a foot injury
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