Inbee Park returns to world No 1 spot after finishing tied for second at the Wilshire Country Club
Tuesday 24 April 2018 09:53, UK
Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn finally joined her sister Ariya as a winner on the LPGA Tour after she closed with a three-under 68 to claim the LA Open title on Sunday.
Moriya's victory by two strokes means that the Bangkok siblings join Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam as the only sisters to win on the tour, with Moriya claiming her maiden title at the 156th attempt.
Ariya watched the final putt drop from just off the green as she stood with her arm around their mother, before skipping onto the green to share a long emotional hug with her older sister as Moriya finished on 12-under to claim the crown.
Former world No. 1 Ariya has been the conquering hero over the past two years, becoming the first player from Thailand to win a major championship when she claimed the 2016 British Open.
On Sunday, Moriya made her move on the back nine, making birdies on four holes beginning at the par-three 12th. Her only blemish of the day was a bogey on 16, but she recovered to par the final two holes.
Inbee Park will return to the No 1 ranking in the world on Monday after she shot a 68 to finish in a tie with fellow Korean Ko Jin-young, who had a 70, leaving them two shots behind Moriya.
Park needed to finish in the top six and for current No 1 Feng Shanshan of China to slip up, which she duly did after she finished in a tie for 12th.
Ryu So-yeon finished in fourth at seven-under 277, five strokes adrift of Moriya.
Ji Eun-hee shot a 71 and tied for fifth with Emma Talley as four of the top six players were from South Korea, much to the delight of the large Korean expat crowd that was in attendance.
But the day belonged to Moriya, who won on her 156th start and was joined in celebration by another Thai, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, who shot a 69 and finished in a season-best ninth place.
