For some there was relief at just finishing the round.
For others, such as Birdie Kim, there was the joy of hitting the lottery with one swing.
And for the rest, there was a swing of emotions to match the blast-furnace intensity of the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open, where smiles were few and far between.
As if Cherry Hills wasn’t already difficult enough, USGA officials had the greens rolled Saturday night, then tucked the pins in undisclosed ZIP codes Sunday morning.
Welcome, ladies, and best of luck.
Asked to describe the conditions, Michelle Wie said, “Difficult would be too easy a word.”
Wie, despite her final-round 82, put on a brave face before an enormous gallery eager to see the future of the women’s game.
Others, such as Lorena Ochoa and 17-year-old Morgan Pressel, shed a few tears after an emotional roller coaster on No. 18. Ochoa was cruising to the best round of the day and the tournament lead until she chucked her tee shot into the water.
“You give everything away, so it is a humble game,” Ochoa said after being consoled following her meltdown.
Pressel, who became a crowd favorite with her frequent emotional outbursts, had a tie for the lead on No. 18 and a shot at history within her grasp. No one so young had won a tournament so big.
On her way down the 18th fairway, she looked toward her final destination, heard the roar of the crowd, and put her hands to her head in disbelief.
Moments later, the longest of longshots was kissing the U.S. Women’s Open trophy.
-Denver Post
