RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. – Lexi Thompson left Michelle Wie behind Sunday — in distance off the tee and on the leaderboard in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
The 19-year-old Thompson beat Wie into Poppie's Pond, too, capping the breakthrough major victory with the traditional victory leap into the water near the 18th green. Thompson closed with a bogey-free 4-under 68 for a three-stroke victory. She birdied four of the first nine holes and parred the final nine.
""This was one of my goals coming into the year, to win a major. I've always seen myself winning a Kraft Nabisco," she said. "It's such a huge honor with all the history behind the tournament."
Wie was second, birdieing the final hole for a 71. She used her driver only four times, choosing to hit fairway metals on the other 10 driving holes — leaving her as much as 60 yards behind Thompson.
Thompson became the second-youngest major winner in LPGA Tour history at 19 years, 1 month, 27 days. Morgan Pressel set the record in her 2007 victory at Mission Hills at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days.
Associated Press
