Once again the LPGA couldn’t get out of its own way.
First, there was the brilliant idea of staging their first major (one of five) on Easter weekend. That meant that not a whole lot of people showed up for what was supposed to be Sunday’s finale at Mission Hills.
The few folks who did show up from Rancho Mirage were treated to darkness and no decision.
That’s what transpired over the final 18 and you could see the chaos coming when Pernilla Lindberg, a mighty underdog, immediately surrendered her overnight lead with a nervous pair of bogeys over her first three holes.
Lineberg’s poor start opened the door for a host of players including the sisters Jutanugarn — Ariya and Moriya along with Jessica Korda and Jennifer Song. Then there was Inbee Park. You take all those other players and none can match the resume of Park — 19 wins including seven major championships. By the end of regulation play, it came down to who could and could not birdie the par five 18th. Song and Park did, getting to 15-under par and put an enormous amount of heat on Lindberg, who was standing over a 98-yard shot into a receptive hole. She hit a perfect pitching wedge within a few feet and suddenly it became playoff time.
Lindberg fought her way back to shoot one-under par 71 and she was at 15-under with Park and Song, who caught her thanks to 67s.
The LPGA insisted on going up and down the 18th to keep what little crowd was there in the game.
After the trio went up and down twice with a total of six pars, they went at it a third time and all produced birdie putts. Lindberg and Park made, Song missed. Down to two.
With darkness taking over, officials asked both remaining players if they wanted to go at it a fourth time. It was unanimous and someone went scrambling for some event lights so they could at least see the green.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this,” said LPGA Hall of Famer Judy Rankin.
Believe it.
Jutanugarn and Lindberg, both looking exhausted, came up with a pair of pars. Four holes — no decision.
The sad news is they came back on Monday morning — 8 a.m. in Rancho Mirage — 11 a.m. for everyone else who went back to work and school on the east coast.
That’s right, no winner. At least not on Easter Sunday.
Editor’s note: It took another four holes on Monday morning but Pernilla Lindberg pulled off the upset of the LPGA season when she holed a 28-foot birdie putt at the par four 10th to beat Inbee Park, the seven-time major champion. It was a stunner. Park missed a 13-footer to keep the playoff going but it ended after a total of eight playoff holes, two short of the LPGA record of 10. “I knew I’m a grinder,” Lindberg said afterward. “I just felt this is mine!”
