Back

IBP is 3-for-3

In women's golf, only the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias (back in that era) and now 24-year-old Inbee Park have won the first three major championships of the year. For IBP, her victory (-8, 280) yesterday in the U.S. Women's Open Championship is the fourth major of her young career; she won the 2008 U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen just outside Minneapolis.

Only two other women have won three majors in a single season: Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986). Zaharias, Wright, and Bradley are all in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Sebonack Golf Club got tougher as the week went on; only Park broke par on Saturday, and just four golfers carded rounds under par on Sunday. In fact, Park and runner up I.K. Kim shot 74 on Sunday, so Park's four-shot lead after 54 holes held up at the end.

"I am just very honored to put my name by someone like Babe Zaharias. I don’t know what I just did today; it's something very great. It's scary to think about what I am capable of doing.

"Believe it or not, I was very calm out there. It was weird; I didn't feel much pressure when I was on the golf course. I was nervous last night, but on the golf course, somehow, I felt very calm."

Having won the season's first three majors, Park remains atop the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings and the official money list.

This also makes Park's sixth victory this season; Park won her fifth only last week at the NW Arkansas Championship in a playoff over 2011 U.S. Women's Open champion So Yeon Ryu.

I.K. Kim finished four shots back at -4, while So Yeon Ryu finished at -1. Park, Kim, and Ryu were the only women to finish the championship under par.

Who's Your Caddie?

During Saturday's third round, Jessica Korda played the first nine holes +5. That was it for Jason Golroyed:

It worked — Korda played the second nine -1, limiting Saturday's damage to a four-over 76. And on Sunday, Korda carded a see-saw 73 to finish T-7 with Brittany Lang. BTW, Johnny DelPrete plays on the Web.com tour, so he knows plenty about heavy pressure during golf tournaments.

Interestingly, Korda's younger sister, amateur Nelly Korda, made the 36-hole cut, going 73-77-79-81 to finish T-64 at +22.

The Contenders

Suzanne Pettersen: "Tutta" shot 76-78 to miss the weekend. &$%#.

Paula Creamer hit 12, 13, 13, and 14 fairways in regulation this week and never less than half the greens in regulation. But the putting surfaces at Sebonack set her back; the Pink Panther did well to finish at +1, T-4 with Angela Stanford and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

Stacy Lewis had a similar week; she took 30, 32, 33, and 34 putts through the four rounds to finish T-42, 20 shots adrift of Park. On Friday, we told you that Lewis said that "This is not a tournament you want to lead after the first day because it's hard to maintain that for four days."

Perhaps she'll change her mind after Sebonack.

Cristie Kerr made the cut at level par, but went 74-78 on the weekend to finish T-20 with Lizette Salas, Jennifer Rosales, Morgan Pressel, and Karine Icher.