WEBB wins LPGA championship for her grandfather, completes career Grand Slam

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) _ Her chin buckled and the tears started flowing as soon as Karrie Webb tapped in her final putt for her historic win in the LPGA Championship. <br><br>But they were the tears of

Monday, June 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) _ Her chin buckled and the tears started flowing as soon as Karrie Webb tapped in her final putt for her historic win in the LPGA Championship.

But they were the tears of a granddaughter, not a Grand Slam champion.

On the eve of her bid to become the youngest woman to win all four LPGA majors, Webb learned that her 71-year-old grandfather was gravely ill in Australia.

Webb's parents hastily arranged a flight halfway around the world. She wanted to join them, but she decided to play in the final round at DuPont Country Club only about seven hours before she was to tee off.

Fighting emotions that only Webb and her caddie knew existed, the 26-year-old Australian turned in a memorable performance to win the LPGA title and complete the swiftest rise in golf _ from a player who couldn't win a major, to one who had them all.

``I don't know how I did what I did today,'' said Webb, who became just the fifth woman golfer to complete the Grand Slam. ``I don't think I was on my own.''

Coming off an eight-stroke victory in the U.S. Women's Open just three weeks ago, Webb led by as many as six strokes early in Sunday's round and was never seriously challenged.

She has won her last four majors _ including consecutive U.S. Opens _ by a combined 25 strokes.

Webb finished Sunday's round with a 2-under 69, leaving her at 270 and two strokes ahead of Laura Diaz.

Webb's grandfather, Mick Collinson, was the model of health, and the stroke he suffered as his granddaughter embarked on the final leg of the Grand Slam was a shock. Webb didn't learn about it until after her first round Thursday.

Then, Webb received word Saturday night he had taken a turn for the worse.

``He hasn't passed yet. Dad says they don't know how many days it will be,'' Webb said. ``He spoke to all of my mom's family, and they all said that Granddad would not have wanted me to come home just yet.''

She left for Australia on Monday morning, bringing home the final piece of a Grand Slam that her grandfather helped influence.

When Webb was 4, her maternal grandparents took her along for 9 holes of golf on Sunday mornings. Webb carried her plastic clubs, and her grandfather toted her on his pull cart when she tired after four holes.

``They were about the only two people in the world who were patient enough to go out with a 4-year-old and play golf on a Sunday morning,'' Webb said.

Webb now has won five of the last eight majors, the most dominant stretch in women's golf since Mickey Wright won five of six from 1961-62.

Tiger Woods is the youngest player to complete the Grand Slam, doing it last year at St. Andrews when he was 24. But no one has won all four in such a short period of time.

It took Webb only eight majors to complete the slam _ Woods went 15 majors between the first and final leg.

Only two years ago, Webb was getting annoyed by questions of when she would win her first major. Just like everything else in her career, the response was swift and decisive.

``In two years, it has been quite a trip,'' Webb said. ``I don't try to beat records. I just try to play good golf.''