Natalie has always been one of my favorite LPGA golfers. Yes I know many of the reasons are apparent. But I just found myself rooting for her as she got so close to winning over the last few years. The way she handles the losses was really a testament to her as a person. I think this is one of the reasons she is so popular on the LPGA tour.

So good going Natalie, and here’s hoping you win many more!

“Gulbis grabs first LPGA victory

ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Natalie Gulbis broke through at the Evian Masters, winning her first LPGA title with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff with Jang Jeong of South Korea on Sunday.

Jang and the 24-year-old American finished the fourth round tied at 4-under 284. Gulbis had a final round 70, and Jang birdied the last hole to finish with a 72.

“Obviously it was meant to be for me,” said Gulbis, in her sixth season on the LPGA. “Before the playoff, I was very upset at myself because I felt like I had given away this tournament. I thought I needed to get to 7 under to win and I end up at, what, four? Going in today, I never thought that four under would have won this tournament.”

Jang, the 2005 Women’s British Open champion, birdied three of the last four holes to tie Gulbis. At the first extra hole, the 18th, Jang missed the green with her second shot, but Gulbis did not.

“I usually can’t reach that green in two,” Gulbis said. “I hit a really good drive and hit my rescue club in. It was about 25 feet and I thought the eagle putt was in. Fortunately, it ended about a foot away and I tapped it in. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be much farther than that.”

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