ANA Inspiration: Ko surges powerfully; Tavatanakit stays calm, takes Title

LPGA 2021 - ANA Inspiration, 50th Anniversary - Final round

Lydia Ko powers forward; Patty Tavatanakit wins

Unflappable from start to finish, not even the greatest final round in ANA Inspiration history was enough to make Patty Tavatanakit sweat on Sunday.

The 21-year-old LPGA Tour rookie from UCLA by way of Thailand led the ANA Inspiration wire-to-wire and punctuated one of the most impressive efforts in the event's 50-year history with the traditional champion's leap into Poppie's Pond on Sunday. She made a superhero pose while in the air, and that was fitting after what she accomplished this week.

She finished at 18-under, two strokes ahead of Lydia Ko, who shot a remarkable round of 10-under 62. Ko's round tied the tournament record and was the best round ever shot on a Sunday here.

But this event belonged to Tavatanakit who answered every challenge by Ko and the rest of the field with a calm confidence that belies her age. Full article & 42 photos

From USA Today:

Even history couldn't stop Patty Tavatanakit on Sunday at the ANA Inspiration.

Lydia Ko shot one of the greatest final rounds in LPGA major championship history on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club, but all that did was put Ko within shouting distance of the dominant Tavatanakit.

Tavatanakit, a rising 21-year-old star from Thailand and UCLA, completed a wire-to-wire victory to make the major championship her first LPGA win. Starting the day with a five-shot lead, Tavatanakit did everything she needed to do on a warm, windless day in Rancho Mirage to hold onto the victory. Full article here

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