PRESSEL POSTS CAREER-BEST AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN RESULT
It’s been 262 LPGA tournaments since Morgan Pressel has visited the winner’s circle, last tasting victory at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, and even longer since her lone major victory at the 2007 ANA Inspiration. Pressel posted four birdies and an eagle to give herself a shot at the title on Sunday at the AIG Women’s British Open. With a lone bogey on the 18th she carded a final-round 67, her lowest final round of the 2019 season, and finished fourth for her best result in a major championship since taking third place at the 2015 ANA Inspiration.
“Just a lot goes back to confidence,” Pressel said Sunday at Woburn Golf Club. “A couple years ago, I didn't know where the ball was going. So it's a little bit easier to play when you can stand over it and have a general idea of where it's going to end up.”
It’s safe to say Pressel’s result this week caught the eye of Team USA Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster. Pressel is a veteran of five USA squads, but missed the team in 2017 for the first time since she turned professional. With just two tournaments left before Team USA is finalized after the CP Women’s Open, it’s crunch time for players to make their case.
When asked about the likelihood of receiving one of Inkster’s two captain’s picks, Pressel joked, “The only time it's on my mind is I wonder how long it's going to take somebody to ask me about it.
“I was out here trying to win major championships. Solheim Cup, it is what it is. I haven't played particularly well over the last two years, but…whatever happens, happens.”
OH SO CLOSE FOR SALAS
After opening with birdies at three of her first four holes, it looked like Lizette Salas could run away with the AIG Women’s British Open. Instead, it all came down to one putt. Her birdie putt on 18 hit the hole and lipped out to the left, giving her a final-round 65 and opening the door for Hinako Shibuno to earn major glory with a winning birdie of her own.
“I take away a lot of positives. We had a game plan at the beginning of the week and we stuck with it. We fought, every single day, and to play alongside the No. 1 player in the world and to play the way I did, I'm really happy,” said Salas, who has already clinched a berth on the 2019 USA Solheim Cup Team. “Obviously I could have finished a little better, and it stings a little bit. But I've just been working so hard this entire year. I'm so proud of my team.”
CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE
The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
No holes-in-one were made this week at the AIG Women’s British Open There have been 18 made prior to the week and a total of $360,000 has been donated thus far in 2019.
LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION
The LEADERS Top 10 competition awards a $100,000 bonus to the LPGA player with the most top-10 finishes through the completion of the event held immediately prior to the CME Group Tour Championship. In the event of a tie in total top-10 finishes, the award will go to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.
Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda both finished in the top 10 at the AIG Women’s British Open and moved into a tie for first with nine top-10s along with Hyo Joo Kim. Danielle Kang and Brooke Henderson follow, both with eight top-10 finishes.