Las Vegas, Nevada (July 30, 2012)–The quality of the field and the course, and just about everthing else at the Evian Masters, has plenty of people believing it should be designated as a major championship on the LPGA Tour. If that were the case, former Las Vegas golfer Inbee Park would have collected her second major championship this week. Park putted flawlessly down the stretch to become the second golfer with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses to win the event in France. –By Brian Hurlburt
"I think it's just this place is really beautiful and everything is in pink," said a smiling–but usually stoic–Park immediately following her victory. "This event, everything just goes well this week. With the lake and everything, I just love this place.
To be able to play good at this event after six years is really special." Fellow Las Vegas golfer Natalie Gulbis, who won the Evian Masters in 2007, finished in a tie for fourth this week.
Inbee Park is one of a long list of PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Champions Tour golfers who have strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Scott Piercy, who grew up in Las Vegas, won on the PGA Tour at the RBC Canadian, making it two Vegas golfers earning big-time golf trophies this weekend.
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Park became the youngest champion in U.S. Women's Open history when she earned the victory in 2008. She was 19-years old at the time. "Winning the U.S. Open as a first win was great," said Park, a multiple Nevada State High School champion. "This one and U.S. Open has got to be really up there in the top."
It was the best finish in several years for Gulbis, who has lived in the Las Vegas Golf Region for about a decade. She works with fellow resident Butch Harmon at the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Las Vegas golf course Rio Secco Golf Club.
"(It feels) good, because I had missed three of my last four cuts, and two of those four were in big events," said Gulbis about being in contention for the first time in awhile. "I had a rough kind of couple weeks off to work on my golf game, so it's nice to see positive things. I have been healthy, which know on wood has been great. I've made a couple caddie changes. It will looking forward to this next year."
Park finished at 17-under par, two shots in front of Stacey Lewis and Karrie Webb. It was her first win since the Open victory. "How would I describe in words?" Park said. " It feels great. It's been four years. It felt like more than four years. Just really happy." Quotes courtesy ASAPSports.com.