Today's win at the Kraft Nabisco was her fifth in her last thirteen major appearances and when three runner up and one third placings are added to that, she now dominates major golf in the same manner in which she has dominated the women's game generally.
Her eight shot win this week over Rosie Jones further highlighted the gap between her and the rest on the LPGA Tour and it now appears the only thing that can put a stop to this domination is a loss of desire. 59 LPGA Tour victories to go with another 12 international victories make her the most prolific winner in the last thirty years, male or female, and when you consider that she is not yet 35 years of age, it is reasonable to assume there are plenty more to come. 41 wins since 2000 on the LPGA Tour is almost impossible to comprehend and when it is considered that she has had to endure a marriage split over the last twelve months it speaks even more of her remarkable Swedish focus.
No-one was going to get near her today as she extended her five shot third round lead to eight and from perhaps as early as halfway through the third round, it was a case of who would run second rather than who would win the tournament. It was a mistake free round of 68 that put the seal on her third Kraft Nabisco win, but it was her third round of 66 which gave her chasers virtually no hope.
Rosie Jones, herself a prolific winner of LPGA Tour events but still without a major championship to her name, fought valiantly and the 45-year-old recorded her best finish at Mission Hills in 21 attempts. She is playing some fine golf now and it may just be that her decision to announce to everyone, in March of 2004, or at least those who didn't already know, that she was gay has assisted her on course efforts. This was her third top ten in three starts this season.
Laura Diaz and the ever present Cristie Kerr shared third, two back of Jones, with the defending champion Grace Park producing the best round of the day to share fifth with Mi Hyun Kim. Park had struggled with a back complaint in recent weeks but she showed, when right, just how good she is. Another veteran Juli Inkster was alone in 7th place.
Of the Australians Wendy Doolan did well for 9th her best finish at this event and just her third top ten in major golf. Rachel Hetherington was 39th, Karrie Webb 44th and Katherine Hull 58th.
The LPGA now, perhaps surprisingly, has a three week break before the LPGA Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas starting April 14th. One of those weeks of course is the US Masters but two other weeks appear noticeably absent from the schedule.
