GOLF/US Women's Open: American Juli Inkster came from two behind overnight to score a shock win over Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and claim her second US Women's Open at Prairie Dunes, Kansas on Sunday.
In a thrilling final afternoon, Inkster, the 1999 winner, shot a joint best of championship 66 to finish on four-under 276.
She won the record $380,000 prize by two shots from Sorenstam, who shot 70, with Australia's Shani Waugh a distant third on 283 after a 73.
Spain's Raquel Carriedo, the European number one, was the first to fire the week's best 66 - she raced to the turn in 30 - and was fourth on 284, while Mhairi McKay, with a 70 for sixth place on 286, was the leading Briton.
Inkster birdied the second, sixth and seventh in a flawless outward 32, and took the lead with another at the 11th.
One ahead, the telling moment came when Sorenstam missed a short par putt at the 15th, while Inkster, in the pair ahead, holed from 12 feet for birdie at the 16th. She was now three ahead and a birdie from the Swede at the 17th only closed the gap.
Sorenstam, a seven-time winner this year already, could only concede that she had lost to a remarkable final day performance. "Juli played an excellent round and I just couldn't match it," she said.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES: (US unless stated, par 70) 276 - J Inkster 67 72 71 66 278 - A Sorenstam (Swe) 70 69 69 70 283 - S Waugh (Aus) 67 73 71 72 284 - R Carriedo (Spa) 75 71 72 66 285 - Se Ri Pak (Kor) 74 75 68 68 286 - M McKay (Brit) 70 75 71 70 287 - J Rosales (Phi) 73 72 74 68, K Kuehne 70 76 72 69, B Daniel 71 76 71 69, L Diaz 67 72 77 71, J Moodie (Brit) 71 72 71 73 288 - K Robbins 71 74 74 69, J Morley (Brit) 78 68 73 69, R Teske (Aus) 75 71 72 70, S Keever 72 71 73 72, L Brooky (Nzl) 73 73 69 73. J McGill 71 70 69 78
