Gustafson hangs on to claim victory

Faltering Sophie Gustafson kept her cool at the final hole of the women's British Open to win the $1.2 million event by two strokes on Sunday.

The Swede had begun the final round at Royal Birkdale seven shots clear but saw that lead shrink to two by the turn, then to one with the 18th to play.

She found a greenside bunker at the par-five final hole but splashed out to five feet and holed out for a closing birdie.

Her final round, a two-over-par 75 and her worst of the event by five shots, gave her a 10-under-par total of 282.

Americans Meg Mallon and Becky Iverson, Kirsty Taylor of England and Liselotte Neumann of Sweden all tied for second.

Mallon hit a final round of 70, Iverson, on her first visit to Britain, and Neumann both scored 69s while Taylor, 10 shots off the lead overnight, began with back-to-back birdies for a 67.

Gustafson had begun with an eagle at the par-five first to go 14 under and increase her cushion to a seemingly impregnable nine shots.

But the 26-year-old then pushed her approach into deep rough at the second and, after taking a penalty drop, ended with a double bogey six.

Apparently unnerved, she then missed a series of fairways as Taylor closed on her.

The real drama came at the final two holes.

Gustafson bogeyed the 17th to find herself just one shot clear of Iverson, Taylor and Neumann in the clubhouse and two ahead of Mallon, her playing partner.

Mallon, who won the final major of the year, the Du Maurier Classic, last week, smashed her approach on to the 18th green to give herself a 15-foot eagle putt and the chance to force a playoff.

But her miss and Gustafson's fine sand shot settled the issue.

World number one Karrie Webb of Australia had a 71 to end on six under par in seventh place.

Event organisers hope the British Open will be upgraded to major status next season.

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