LOS ANGELES — Anna Nordqvist started the year by winning at Women’s British Open. In addition to winning last week at the Safeway LPGA Classic, Nordqvist has finished in the top 10 in four of her last five starts.
The 27-year-old Swede rounds off her final LPGA tour event with a tournament that has been little more than a launching pad for American players the last several years. After Paige Mackenzie led by as many as seven shots, Nordqvist rallied in the last nine holes. The win was her first since the Bahamas LPGA Classic last December.
“I’ve learned a lot, not only about myself, but about how to go out on the golf course,” Nordqvist said. “A lot of work went into this win, especially that last three-hole stretch in the last nine holes.”
Nordqvist, the No. 4-ranked player in the world, got off to a quick start and never faltered. She birdied five of the first six holes, made an eagle at the 10th and took a one-shot lead. She added a pair of birdies on the back nine to finish the day at 18-under.
“It was really fun to kind of jump out there and get off to such a nice start, and then kind of throw out the towel and just keep rolling. It worked out really well,” Nordqvist said.
China’s Jing Yan had a two-shot lead after seven holes but also faltered. She shot 41 on the back nine and finished tied for second with England’s Laura Davies and South Korean Noh Seung-yul, who won her fourth straight event.
“I’m not that disappointed, to be honest. It’s a great opportunity for me to get some more experience out there,” Yan said. “I was able to make a few good birdies, and to not be too down when I didn’t play so well on the back nine, which I was quite content with that.”
DIVOTS: Danone, the French dairy company, has given World Bank Group (in which it is the largest shareholder) a five-year $100 million commitment for fertilizer plant in Egypt. . . . In December, Pinehurst in North Carolina will host the seventh and final consecutive Women’s U.S. Open. The All-America team from Duke will be the defending champion this time around.
—Lisa Dillman