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Stupples gets British Open

England's Karen Stupples kisess the trophy following her victory in the Women's British Open at Sunningdale, England, Sunday. It's her first win in a major tournament. PHOTO: AP

Karen Stupples fired an 8-under 64 to win the Women's British Open, her first major, by five strokes over top-ranked Annika Sorenstam.

Before Sunday, Sorenstam had successfully defended all her major titles and was trying to tie Mickey Wright's record of a back-to-back Grand Slams -- winning all the designated majors twice in a row.

Wright won the 1958-1959 US Opens, 1960-1961 LPGA Championships, 1961-1962 Titleholders and 1962-1963 Western Opens.

Sorenstam had already won the US Open (1995-1996) and Nabisco (2001-2002) and her LPGA Championship triumph in June was also the second in a row. But she couldn't hold on to the Women's British Open title she won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes last year.

"I had an opportunity to do something that nobody else has done [in modern day majors]," she said after a final round 71 left her back in a tie for 13th place at 8 under. "It's fun to be in that situation. So, obviously I wish the outcome was different. Hopefully I'll get in this position again."

To do that, she will have to win the British Open twice more and in a row.

"Of course I'm disappointed. But I give myself a lot of credit," Sorenstam said. "I gave it all I got this week it was tough for me I missed a few shots here and there and I really couldn't get it going. I tried really hard. I tried and I fought and I didn't give up until the last putt went in."

While Sorenstam had to be satisfied with one major this year, Stupples was celebrating her first after six years on the LPGA Tour.

The Englishwoman won her first title in the opening tournament of the season, the Welch's /Fly's Championship at Tucson, Arizona, in March having done little to worry the big names on the tour.

Stupples held the halfway lead at both last week's Evian Masters in France and this tournament at Sunningdale. She faded for a tie for fourth last week and, on Saturday, slipped back a shot behind the leader at the Old Course.

Buick Open
AP, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Vijay Singh outlasted John Daly with a 5-under 67 Sunday to win the Buick Open at 23-under 265 for his fourth victory of the year and 19th of his career.

Daly, vying for a second win in one year for the first time, finished a stroke back after shooting a 66 and bogeying the 18th hole.

Tiger Woods started the day three strokes behind Singh, and pulled within a stroke while shooting a 66. He finished at 21 under, two strokes behind the winner and tied with Carlos Franco (67) for third.

Woods will look to snap his streak without a major at nine in two weeks at the PGA Championship.

Defending champion Jim Furyk finished tied for sixth at 17 under after shooting a 68 on Sunday.

Singh's bogey at 18 created an opportunity for Daly to force a playoff, but Daly was unable to take advantage of the break.

Singh is just the third two-time Buick Open champion, and the first since Julius Boros won at Warwick Hills a second time in 1967.

Entering the tournament, Singh had 10 top-10 finishes. The Fijian played well this week after going back to a standard putter. He was using a long one for 2 1/2 years. He also said earlier in the week that he stopped worrying about chasing Woods in the world rankings.
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