Australia's Karrie Webb
started the LPGA Tour season right where she left off last year.
The 1999 LPGA player of
the year successfully defended her title in The Office Depot on today, closing
with a 1-under 71 for a four-stroke victory in the season-opening tournament.
"I have high expectations
of myself and so do a lot of other people," said Webb, who led the LPGA Tour
last year with six victories and set tour records with $1,591,959 in earnings
and a 69.43 stroke average. "It's good to get my first win straight-away. Hopefully,
it's a sign of good things to come."
Webb, who earned $112,500
for her 16th career LPGA victory, had a 7-under 281 total on the Ibis Golf &
Country Club's Legend course. Juli Inkster shot a 64 to finish second at 285,
and Canada's Lorie Kane closed with a 68 to finish third at 286.
Webb has led or shared
the top spot in The Office Depot for eight consecutive rounds. It was the ninth
time in 15 tournaments that she has won when leading at the start the final round,
and the her fourth successful title defense.
"I think most of the tournaments
I've won, I really like the golf course," Webb said. "When I go back, I get a
good feeling about the area and the course. Some people say it's harder to defend
a tournament, but I think it's the biggest advantage you can have. You've got
better memories than anyone else in the field."
Inkster tied her career-low
round and was one stroke off the tournament and course record set by Emilee Klein
in 1997.
"I never thought I had
a chance because Karrie is playing so well, but I thought I could get in there
for second," said Inkster, who won five times last season and qualified for the
Hall of Fame.
"I wanted to be in contention,
and I got there with a solid round. But Karrie had too big a lead and she wasn't
going to make stupid mistakes. I knew I was playing for second."
Webb, skipping next week's
tournament in Naples, Fla., is scheduled to return to action next month in the
Australian Women's Open and Australian Ladies Masters.
