Beatriz Recari wins Kia Classic in playoff

Beatriz Recari wins Kia Classic in playoff










Forrest Lee, The Sports Xchange March 24, 2013 10:41 PMThe SportsXchange



CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Spain's Beatriz Recari sank an 18-foot putt on the second hole of a playoff to defeat I.K. Kim of South Korea and capture the $1.7 million Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club on Sunday.

"I can't think right now," Recari said, breaking down in tears after the victory. "I'm just thinking about my family, my coach, everybody that has really been with me for so long."

It was the second LPGA Tour win for Recari, who earned $255,000 for her effort. Recari won the CVS Pharmacy Challenge as a rookie in 2010.

Twice this season she came close to winning, but couldn't seal the deal. She finished tied for third at the Honda Thailand event and tied for fourth at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in February.

Kim, who has three LPGA Tour titles, won $156,616 for her runner-up finish.

Both players, who were tied at 279 in regulation, had chances to clinch the title on the final hole in regulation, but neither managed to come through. Kim missed a 30-foot putt for birdie on 18, coming up about six feet short. Her shot for par sailed right for bogey and dropped her one shot back of Recari.

But Recari failed to take advantage of the opportunity. She also 3-putted on 18, coming up empty on a putt from 25 feet that sailed four feet past the cup. Her attempt for par lipped out right, and she bogeyed the hole and to force a playoff.

On the first playoff hole, both players bogeyed.

Recari, who didn't bogey a hole for the first three rounds, carded three on Sunday. Kim had four, including three in a row on holes 11, 12 and 13.

Several players were in contention throughout the final round. Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum made a strong run for the title. Phatlum, who started the day seven shots off the lead, was tied for first before bogeying the 18th. She finished at 280 and tied for third with Mo Martin and Cristie Kerr.

Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, who was two shots back to start the day, shot a 74 and tied for sixth at 281 with Jane Park and Lizette Salas.

Stacy Lewis' bid for a third consecutive tournament title was dashed on the back nine with a double bogey on 11 and a bogey on 14. On 18, she hit a tee shot in the water and double bogeyed the hole.

Recari wins Kia Classic in playoff

Recari wins Kia Classic in playoff










Forrest Lee, The Sports Xchange March 24, 2013 11:40 PMThe SportsXchange



CARLSBAD, Calif. -- They call her Iron Woman on the LPGA Tour. On Sunday, though, Spain's Beatriz Recarishowed her softer side.

Recari, who earned the nickname after she made the cut in 27 events last season, kept her poise through regulation and a two-hole playoff in the final round of the Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club. However, when she sank an 18-foot birdie putt to defeat South Korea's I.K. Kim for the tournament title, she could no longer keep her emotions in check.

"I can't think right now," Recari said as she broke down in tears. "I'm just thinking about my family, my coach, everybody that has really been with me for so long. I'm definitely more emotion than my first win."

Her second Tour win allowed her to claim $255,000 in prize money. Recari's first victory came in the 2010 CVS Pharmacy Challenge as a rookie.

She shot a 2-over-par 74 Sunday to finish with a four-day total of 9-under 279.

Kim won $156,616 for her runner-up finish.

"I had a good day, I have to say," said Kim, who shot a 71 Sunday. "Just on the back nine made a few mistakes, and reading the green was really tricky out there. But I had a chance. Everybody's the same story, but it was just one of those days."

Twice this season Recari had similar days to Kim. She came close to winning but couldn't seal the deal in earlier tournaments, finishing tied for third at the Honda Thailand event and tied for fourth at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in February.

At times, it almost appeared she might not win the Kia Classic, either. Recari and Kim had chances to clinch the title on the final hole in regulation, but neither managed to come through.

Kim, who has three LPGA Tour titles, missed a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 18, coming up about six feet short. Her shot for par sailed to the right for a bogey, and she dropped one shot back of Recari.

Recari failed to take advantage of the opportunity. She also three-putted on No. 18, coming up empty on a shot from 25 feet that sailed four feet past the cup. Her attempt for par lipped out right, and the bogey forced a playoff.

On the first playoff hole, back at No. 18, both players shot bogeys. But Recari prevailed on the second playoff hole, again at No. 18, pumping her fist as her birdie putt rolled toward the hole.

"I had a good feeling, but like the same as the other putts that didn't go in, the other ones went by, missed the hole, and this one went in," Recari said. "I had the same (approach) in every shot. Nothing different. And I'm always trying to do my best, and I'm just happy that it dropped in."

Said Kim, who missed a birdie putt on the second playoff hole, "It would have been great if I had won, but I played well this week and even last week I played well, so I think I'm going in the right direction and I just think I'm working on the right things. It's getting better, so I'm very excited about this season."

Recari, who didn't bogey a hole during the first three rounds, carded three bogeys Sunday, then another on the first playoff hole. Kim had four prior to the playoff, including three in a row on Nos. 11, 12 and 13.

"They were the only three bogeys that I made all week," said Recari, who fought through a sinus infection since the opening round of the tournament. "I mean, I was playing very solid and I was managing to do very good. ... I just told myself not (to) be hard on myself. I dropped shots. Everybody does. I'm human, (but I) just kind of continue and have a positive attitude."

Several players were in contention throughout the final round. Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum made a strong run for the title. Phatlum, who started the day seven shots off the lead, was tied for first before bogeying the 18th. She finished at 280, tied for third with Mo Martin and Cristie Kerr.

Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, who was two shots back to start the day, shot a 74 and tied for sixth at 281 with Jane Park and Lizette Salas.

Stacy Lewis' bid for a third consecutive tournament title was dashed on the back nine with a double bogey on No. 11 and a bogey on No. 14. On No. 18, she hit her tee shot in the water and double bogeyed the hole.

Tiger reclaims world No. 1 ranking with Bay Hill victory

Tiger reclaims world No. 1 ranking with Bay Hill victory










The Sports Xchange March 25, 2013 2:31 PMThe SportsXchange



Tiger Woods took over the No. 1 world ranking for the first time since October 2010 by winning the weather-delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Monday.

Woods shot a final-round 2-under 70 to finish the tournament at 13-under - two shots ahead of Justin Rose. It was Woods' 77th career PGA Tour victory and his eighth at Bay Hill, and he took over the No. 1 spot in the 2013 FedEx Cup rankings.

"I play well on this course," Woods said with a smile. "I made my share of putts."

He had to wait an extra day to complete the Bay Hill victory after a fierce storm dumped heavy rain and rendered the course unplayable Sunday. But Woods was solid in polishing off his third victory of the year Monday.

"I've turned some of those weaknesses from last year into strengths," he said.

Woods said he is looking forward to taking a few days off and will not play at this week's Shell Houston Open as he prepares for the Masters April 11-14. Rory McIlroy, who lost the No. 1 world ranking to Woods, will play in Houston.

Woods' victory at Bay Hill on Monday tied him with Hall of Fame member Sam Snead for the most victories at a single PGA Tour event.