After a strong showing in the tournament, Leona Maguire and Jennifer Kupcho stumbled to a two under-par 68 in the final round four-balls at the Dow Championship to finish seven shots outside what turned out to be a playoff for the title.
In the playoff, Somi Lee poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the first hole alongside fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years.
Thompson’s partner, Megan Khang, who was 8-under on her own ball on Sunday, had a chance to extend the playoff, but missed a 5-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start.
Thompson made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole in regulation, with Khang still facing a 6-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260.
Lee meanwhile made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th and then both Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the outright win.
The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just 5 feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but 8 feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt.
“Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played,” Khang said.
Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year.
Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America.
“I can’t believe it,” Lee said after making her winning putt.
Despite the poor final round, it’s a continuation of some good form for Maguire ahead of the KPMG Irish Open in Carton House this week.
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