Kraft Nabisco Championship
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship ended in dramatic fashion with Sun Young Yoo beating out I.K. Kim in a one-hole playoff for her second career victory and first major championship. After I.K. Kim missed a one-foot par putt on the 18th hole to force a two-player playoff, Yoo hit her approach shot to 20-feet on the first playoff hole and sank the birdie putt to clinch what seemed to be an improbable victory at the season’s first major championship.
Yoo shot a final-round 69 to put herself in position to be in the playoff. After shooting even-par on the front nine, she tallied three birdies on No. 11, 12 and 15 to move to 9-under-par and eventually get into the two-woman playoff for the championship.
Yoo becomes the second South Korean to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship, joining Grace Park (2004). It’s her first victory since she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship. She is projected to jump from No. 21 to 16 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings following her first major championship win.
“I didn’t think about winning today because I didn’t want to expect too much, and I didn’t want to let myself down,” said Yoo. “But I think I did better than I was thinking, so I’m very happy.”
A bit cold…After winning her first major championship, Sun Young Yoo, was visibly cold in her iconic white robe and was at a loss for words when asked how much this win means to her.
“I don’t know how to say it,” said Yoo. “I don’t think any words can describe how I feel right now. I’m still nervous. I wasn’t nervous on the course, but now I’m really nervous (in front of the media).”
Yoo still had ice in her veins throughout her pressure-filled final round and showed no hesitation in making the historic leap into Poppie’s Pond.
“I didn’t know it was going to be that cold,” Yoo added. “As soon as I ran in there, I was like, oh, that’s cold. It was great.”
Missed opportunity… I.K. Kim appeared to have the Kraft Nabisco Championship right in her grasp as she stared at a one-foot par putt on the 18th hole. With Sun Young Yoo already in at 9-under-par and Yani Tseng needing an eagle on the last hole to finish at 10-under-par, the putt seemed to be almost a gimme but with so much on the line, Kim made an uncharacteristic error, as the one-footer broke right and forced the playoff that would leave her one shot short of her first major championship. But Kim is optimistic about future chances at the Kraft.
“Sometimes things happen, and it’s kind of tough because it’s Nabisco, and hopefully I’ll have better or more chances.”
Yani Tseng held the lead heading into the final round of the Kraft Nabisco on Sunday, the ninth time out of the last 10 rounds she has played. It’s the first time since the 2010 Kraft Nabisco that Tseng did not win a tournament where she held or shared the lead going into the final round. The world’s No. 1 player had a birdie opportunity on 18 to push herself into the two-player playoff with I.K. Kim and Sun Young Yoo.
“I was totally shocked that I couldn’t make that,” said Tseng. “But I tried my best again. I finished strong it was a day I really don’t want, but I give my 100 percent effort out there.”
Same finish, different reaction…A year ago, Yani Tseng found herself crying after she blew a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Kraft Nabisco and lost by three shots to Stacy Lewis. This year, Tseng once again fell short of a victory at the season’s first major after holding a share of the third-round lead, but her perspective afterward was much different.
“I feel I’m improving,” Tseng said. “Last year when I finished I was crying so hard, but this year I was happy, smiling, enjoy the crowd, enjoy walking on the 18 holes, and I think it’s because I do my best every shot. I didn’t give up every shot, and I just give 100 percent effort out there, and sometimes like I said, in a tournament you’re not going to finish the way you want. And I said maybe God just wanted another player to win and give me something to learning more and improving myself.”
Delicious! I made this gorgeous pie for Thanksgiving Day. I loved the chltaooce cookie crust and the pudding was the best pudding I have ever made (even though it could have cooked another minute or two), and using whipped cream. I added banana slices on top of the pudding. My husband and daughter loved it. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I think this may become a holiday tradition!