Kupcho’s first major title is richly deserved. Yesterday’s best-of-week 64 may have been the deciding factor, but her response to that slight wobble on the back nine today was, in its own way, nearly as impressive. Just as it looked as though Jessica Korda might reel her in, a seven-stroke lead having been whittled down to two, Kupcho played the 15th to perfection, making a ship-steadying birdie, after which she never looked in danger. She now files the 2022 Dinah Shore alongside her 2019 Augusta National title, and furthermore has made history as the last player to make the famous jump into Poppie’s Pond. A fair chance she’ll be making plenty more leaps forward in the next few years. Thanks for reading this hole-by-hole report. Nighty night!
-14: Kupcho
-12: Korda
-11: Babnik
-10: Shibuno, Boutier, Thompson, Tavatanakit
-8: Lee, Green, Koerstz Madsen, HJ Kim
-7: M Lee
-6: Hall, O’Toole, Sagstrom, Henderson
Updated
Kupcho, having dotted the Is and crossed the Ts on her scorecard, arrives back on 18 for the prize-giving ceremony. Melissa Montgomery, the daughter of the tournament founder Dinah Shore, arrives to great acclaim. Then there’s some corporate bumf from the Chevron guy. And finally our new champion is awarded the Dinah Shore Trophy. She hoists it in the air, before offering Montgomery a handle. Pictures, then another chat with NBC. “I’ve been so close a couple of times. It’s really hard, but here I am.” Then she takes the last leap into Poppie’s Pond with husband and caddy. As she sails through the air towards the briny, a grin nearly as wide as the pond and warm as the desert sun flashes across her face. A moment to savour, right there.
