Pernilla Lindberg Outduels Inbee Park in Playoff to Win 2018 ANA Inspiration
It took an extra day after darkness postponed the competition, but Pernilla Lindberg is finally a major champion.
The Swede birdied the eighth playoff hole Monday, defeating Inbee Park to win the 2018 ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. The pair completed four playoff holes Sunday after finishing at 15 under par in a three-way tie with Jennifer Song, who was eliminated following the third hole.
Teeing off early Monday morning, the two remaining women fought through another thrilling four holes—each coming with opportunities for victory. Lindberg's birdie was the first of the day, as the pair traded pars for the first three holes.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Lindberg entered the weekend having just one top-10 finish in a major championship, a tie for fifth at the U.S. Women's Open in 2015.
"I just know I'm a grinder, and I just felt this was mine and I'm going to do this," Lindberg said after the win, per LPGA.com. "I couldn't believe that last one went in and Inbee didn’t hole hers and it's mine."
This is also Lindberg's first win on the LPGA Tour. She is the fifth woman to win her first career event at the ANA Inspiration. Helen Alfredsson (1993), Nanci Bowen (1995), Morgan Pressel (2007) and Stacy Lewis (2011) previously pulled off the feat.
Lindberg won the event wire-to-wire, buoyed by her 12-under score through the first two rounds. She was just five under par over her next 44 holes (including the playoff), but it was good enough to pull off an upset.
Park, a seven-time major winner, was looking for her first win in a major since 2015. She previously won the ANA Inspiration in 2013.
"I dreamt of this moment ever since I was a kid," Lindberg said. "I remember writing goals when I was [in] high school to win a major, and I thought it was too good of a dream to come true, but it has.”
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
