Park beats the kids to win her first major

<br>RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) _ Grace Park could only watch as the eagle putt rolled into the center of the cup on the 18th green, sending Aree Song into a Tiger Woods-like fist pumping mini-frenzy. <br><br>Park's

Sunday, March 28th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) _ Grace Park could only watch as the eagle putt rolled into the center of the cup on the 18th green, sending Aree Song into a Tiger Woods-like fist pumping mini-frenzy.

Park's own putt was only 6 feet, but now it seemed longer. Much longer.

Sink it and Park would win her first major championship. Miss it and she would have to take her chances in a playoff with the teen phenom.

The putt was simple enough, but the moment was big.

Park was feeling the pressure.

``My knees, my arms, my whole body was shaking,'' Park said. ``I didn't know if I could start the club back.''

There was never a doubt. Park struck the putt with a smooth stroke and it fell gently in the cup, giving her the Kraft Nabisco Championship in perhaps the most dramatic finish in the history of the 33-year-old event.

On a day when two teenagers showed they might be the future of women's golf, the 25-year-old Park was the present. Michelle Wie and the 17-year-old Song will have their time, but this day belonged to Park, who finished with a 3-under 69.

``If you want it really, really badly you can do it,'' Park said. ``I guess I was the one who wanted it the most.''

Park's putt came just moments after Song rolled in a 30-foot eagle putt to tie her for the lead, pumping her fist in the air and shouting ``Yes! Yes! Yes!''

Park had vowed that this would be her day and she would finally win a major championship. She just didn't realize how tough it would be.

``I did it. I'm shaking like a baby,'' Park said.

Song's final-hole theatrics came on a hole shortened to 485 yards on Sunday so players could take a chance and go for the green in two.

Song gave herself a chance by making her three. But she didn't expect Park to miss.

``I wasn't really disappointed when it went in because I felt like I couldn't have done anymore,'' Song said.

Both Song and Wie did nothing to diminish their status as stars of the future. Song ended up with a 70 in final-round pressure, while Wie shot a 71 to finish four shots back in fourth place. Wie, though, was never really in contention after Park took command with four birdies in a row beginning at the ninth hole.

Wie began the day two shots off the lead held by Park and Song and played steadily, but could not take advantage of a number of birdie chances on the front side and was never really a threat. Wie, ninth here last year, finished fourth.

``I just promised myself whatever happened I would fight to the end and I did,'' the 14-year-old said. ``I was proud of myself.''

Karrie Webb closed with a 69 to finish third, two strokes back.

Park, in her fifth year on tour, came close to a major title last year, losing in a playoff to Annika Sorenstam in the LPGA Championship.

With Sorenstam not a factor on the weekend, Park still had plenty to worry about. There were the two teen phenoms and Webb, whose 29 LPGA wins include six major championships.

Park started slowly, making bogey on the third hole, and was two shots back of Song when she stood on the ninth fairway with a wedge in her hand. She hit the shot within 3 feet, made the putt and was off and running on a birdie binge.

Park birdied the next three holes to open up a two-shot lead and appeared ready to take command of the tournament. But she had to escape near disaster on the 15th hole when she hit a tree on her second shot and chunked her third before making an up-and-down bogey.

``I got a little frustrated,a little worried,'' Park said. ``It lasted only 50 yards because when I got to my ball I knew I had to get up and down.''

Park parred the next two holes before her final clutch birdie.

She then celebrated by gleefully taking the traditional champion's plunge into the pond surrounding the final green before receiving the trophy while wrapped in a white bathrobe.

``I don't remember what it was like out there but I know I won and I'm going to enjoy this moment,'' Park said.

Song, who like Wie first played here as a 13-year-old amateur and finished in the top 10, was in her fifth Nabisco but only her fourth tournament since turning pro.

A 3-putt on the 16th hole, where her first putt went off the front of the green, appeared to end Song's chances, but that was before she smashed her drive 275 yards down the 18th hole and had 210 to the green.

With a 7-wood in hand, the diminutive Song hit a brilliant shot that hit softly and rolled within 30 feet of the hole. When the putt went in, she erupted with more emotion than she had shown all week.

``I knew I had to make a three to have any chance,'' Song said. ``I read it perfectly and hit it where I wanted to. It just went in.''

Playing in front of Park, Webb also thought she had a chance on 18 with an eagle chip that finished about 2 feet from the hole.

``I really thought I was going to chip it up and in on the last hole, but it just wasn't to be,'' Webb said.

Sorenstam, meanwhile, saw her quest for the Grand Slam end before it ever really began. She shot her second straight 69 Sunday, but was never in contention.

Sorenstam's tournament ended up on an anticlimactic note after she tried to reach the par-5 18th in two, only to see her ball hit the green and bouncer into the water behind it. Sorenstam had to go behind the water to hit her fourth shot, which hit the cup, before going well by for a finishing bogey.

Sorenstam, who finished at 3 under, never recovered from a 76 on Friday that eliminated any chance she had of winning the first of the four majors.

``It's disappointing,'' Sorenstam said. ``But on the other hand it gets me fired up for the other three. That's why I set high goals for myself.''