Golf story by Boris Webb, Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:28:01 GMT


RANCHO MIRAGE, California - Australian Karrie Webb scripted an amazing comeback to clinch the Karft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club on Sunday and thus spoiled Michelle Wie's dream of annexing her first professional title.

The turning point for Webb came on the 72nd hole when she put eagle into the cup from 116 yards. Webb had a seven shot deficit at the start of the day and to finish with 65 and 9-under-par total of 279 took a lot of effort from the Australian. This is Webb's seventh title and her first significant victory since 2004. "I'm ecstatic right now. I feel pretty lucky to be here," Webb said after the match.

"When it goes in the hole, there's always an element of luck there. . . . It was straight at the pin. When it went in, I just couldn't believe it. I think my heart just about jumped out of my chest because it was aching for five minutes. . . . It took me 15 minutes to calm down." Wie, Ochoa and Natalie Gulbis were all in with a chance, but muffed it up. Wie would surely regret her decision to chip, rather than putt her third shot at the 526-yard 18th hole. That decision proved costly as the ball skidded and rolled almost 10 feet past the hole.

"I thought I had more of a chance to make it chipping," Wie explained. "I had no idea it would be that fast. Unfortunately, it scooted away from me. . . . Karrie holing out, Lorena making eagle, me not making birdie, I guess it wasn't meant to be, but I tried my hardest."

It was a memorable tournament for Webb, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame about 4 months ago. Her 31st career victory earned her a neat $270,000. Webb's coach Ian Triggs believes that the win could kick start her quest fro the No 1 status yet again. "Hopefully she can grow from here and get back to being No.1 again," Triggs said. "It'd be a phenomenal achievement."

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