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| Cristie Kerr |
It's been almost 12 seasons since American
Cristie Kerr joined the LPGA tour and although she has some great successes in the sport, when it comes to majors she has turned up a big goose egg. All that came to an end this week when the 29 year old out stroked number 1 world ranked
Lorena Ochoa to take home the U.S. Women's Open.
Kerr has had 42 attempts at a major event making this victory just that much more sweet. In the past few years, as young American upstarts have been claiming some of the spotlight for Kerr pushing her into the background, which may have taken off some of the pressure allowing this break through. With so much attention being placed on players like the unpredictable
Michelle Wie and
Paula Creamer, Kerr has quietly won 8 out of her last nine championships.
Kerr turned pro in 1996 and had trouble at first adapting to the circuit. Her weight and a bad reputation followed her until 1999 when she began to diet and routinely exercise dropping over 65 and improving on her game tremendously.
Here at Pine Needles Golf Club, she earned an elusive major event title when she hit a two foot putt for par on the last hole and pushed ahead of Ochoa. The 25 year old Mexican star, shot 71 and had to settle for second tying with Open rookie Angela Park. She remains the number one ranked woman on the tour despite being 0- 23 for major events.
Kerr told the
Associated Press after the victory, "I just knew I was going to win. When I stepped on the grounds this week, it was just magic."
