Karrie Webb crumbles to concede Singapore golf title
Karrie Webb led every round of the HSBC Women’s Champions tournament in Singapore before capitulating late on the final day to finish third.
Webb bogeyed three of her last six holes, giving up a three-stroke lead and finishing at nine-under-par.
American Paula Creamer won the LPGA event with a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Spain’s Azahara Munoz.
Webb appeared headed for a comfortable victory but, after avoiding trouble on a tricky Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club for much of the week, she stumbled late.
The Australian’s three-foot par putt on the 13th caught the edge of the hole and curled away. Then, she hooked her tee shot left on the 15th, grimacing as it dropped into the water.
She came undone on the 18th when another errant tee shot ended up in a bunker and she needed two shots to get out.
“I’m a bit in my head right now,” Webb said after the round.
“Just not a lot of good decisions.”
It was Creamer’s first LPGA title since the 2010 US Open.
Creamer’s monster putt to seal the win curled across the 18th green and then rolled slowly down the slope and into the hole.
“It’s one of those putts where, if you just get it in the right spot, it’s going to fall down,” she said.
Creamer and Munoz finished 72 holes tied at 10-under 278.
The American, who trailed Webb by four strokes at the start of the day, had a number of top-five finishes since her breakthrough win at the US Open, but hadn’t been able to capture another title.
She was third in Singapore last year and finished in a tie for third twice to start this season: at the Women’s Australian Open and the Bahamas LPGA Classic.