ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Stacy Lewis felt such a spiritual connection with St. Andrews that even when she was three behind with three to play, she never lost hope she could win the Women's British Open. No way could she have scripted a finish like this.
Facing the scariest shot and the hardest hole on the Old Course — the approach to the 17th, the famous Road Hole — Lewis pictured a low 5-iron that a right-to-left wind would knock down and allow to bounce up the slope toward the flag without going over the back of the green.
"It's one of those shots you see in your head, but you don't really ever pull it off," Lewis said. "And just off the club face, it was perfect."
The ball settled 3 feet away for birdie, the best shot of the tournament, maybe the best of her career.
Then, she wisely used putter from 40 yards short of the 18th green, through the Valley of Sin to 25 feet. Lewis bent over and placed both hands on her knees after making the putt, a birdie-birdie finish that gave another special moment at the home of golf — her second major title.
Lewis saved her best for the final two holes of a marathon finish Sunday and closed with an even-par 72 for a two-shot victory over Na Yeon Choi and Hee Young Park. It ended a record drought for the Americans in the majors — 10 straight, all won by Asian players.
