Women's Irish Open Final round: The majesty of the Mahony's Point course in Killarney was rivalled by the brilliance of Swede Sophie Gustafson, who produced another round of near-perfect golf to turn the final round of the Irish Open into a virtual solo performance and claim the €24,750 first prize and 40 Solheim Cup points.
She proved too hot to handle in the sweltering heat for her playing partner and friend Laura Davies of England, as two of the tour's biggest hitters thrilled the large galleries.
Gustafson had laid the foundations for victory on Saturday with a career-low 63 that put her five shots clear of Davies on 17 under par. Both players began the day on seven under but Gustafson carded a birdie at the opening hole, another at the par-five third and yet another at the sixth as she went on cruise control.
The Swede turned in 32 after an eight-foot birdie at the ninth and followed up with two more red numbers at the tenth and 11th.
At the par five 13th, Gustafson boomed a drive down the centre of the fairway and ripped a six iron to three feet for her second eagle in two days, then thrilled the galleries with further birdies at the 15th and 17th.
"I wanted to shoot ten under and now I've done it, it feels fantastic," said Gustafson, who admitted to loving the local hospitality. "It's always a pleasure coming here. I was going to have two weeks in Sweden, but when I realised the event was this week, I wanted to come over. I've never been to Killarney before and the hospitality and atmosphere is superb here."
Yesterday's round demanded none of the heroics of Saturday.
Despite an early scare when Davies birdied the first and the Swede bogeyed the second after hitting into the trees, Gustafson was never troubled thereafter.
And with a gallery approaching 3,000, Gustafson, playing with Trish Johnson and Davies in the final group, performed the role of pied piper down the last three holes, the most picturesque on the course, and safely two-putted the final hole to win the title and leap up to fifth in the Solheim Cup rankings.
"Those 40 points mean a lot," said Gustafson. "I've probably got to get about 35 more points to get in, but this is a big leap for me and I want to get on that team in Sweden.
"Killarney is a lovely place and Ireland always brings me a bit of luck. I holed a few putts over the first two days here and the confidence just came flooding back - I'm a happy girl!"
Davies, despite shooting a two-under 71, could not find the spark needed to win her third Irish Open and 66th career victory.
Trish Johnson made her move in the final round with a 69 to finish third on 12 under par.
Alison Nicholas and Kirsty Taylor closed with 69s to tie for fourth and make it four English players in the top five.
