Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson, who won the inaugural title in 1994, became the first three-time winner of the Evian Masters on Sunday when she came out top in a three-way sudden-death play-off.
The 43-year-old veteran, who won for a second time in 1998, had birdied the final two holes for a final round 67 and forced herself into a play-off on 15 under par 273 against Brazil’s Angela Park and South Korean rookie, Choi Na-yeon. The play-off was over the par five 18th and experience proved to be decisive as Alfredsson clinched the US$475,000 first prize — the joint richest in the women’s game — with a birdie four at the third extra hole.
Park, who had led going into the final round and closed with a 71, went out when she could only make par at the first extra hole, and 21-year-old Choi missed a six foot birdie putt that would have extended the contest.
PHOTO: AP
Alfredssson two-putted for the winning birdie.
“I’m really getting too old for this,” joked the popular Alfredsson, who has won 19 tournaments worldwide in her 19-year career, but none since the 2003 Longs Drugs Challenge in California. It was her first win in Europe since the 2001 WPGA Championship of Europe in Wales.
“I’m thrilled to win again,” she said. “This tournament has always had a special place in my heart ever since I won the first one. It is the most beautiful place and I feel I have been so lucky to be invited back every year. It’s just great to be a three-time champion.”
Alfredsson has been hit by a string of injuries over the years, and she cut back on her tournament play last season when she was the European Solheim Cup captain. But she showed great form last month with a second place in the US Women’s Open.
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