Karrie Webb rallies to win 2014 JTBC Founders Cup

Karrie Webb’s JTBC Founders Cup win was her 41st career victory, tying Babe Zaharias for 10th all-time on the LPGA Tour wins list
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Karrie Webb proved that the LPGA Tour isn’t just for the young players anymore by erasing a 6-shot deficit while shooting a course record-tying 9-under 63 in the final round to win the 2014 JTBC Founders Cup, her second Founders Cup victory in the last four years.

Webb’s spectacular final round included a 6-under 30 on the back nine that saw her birdie five of her final six holes to get to 19-under par, culminating with a 20-foot birdie putt on 18 that ended up deciding the tournament for the 39-year-old Hall of Famer.

Unfortunately for Webb, she had to wait nearly 90 minutes to see if her score would hold up, or if it would be too little too late.

“I didn’t expect to be sitting here at the start of the day,” Webb said. “Even, actually, when I finished the day, I didn’t expect to be sitting here. So I feel a little bit lucky, I guess, to be sitting here. But it doesn’t make it feel any less special.”

With time to wait, Webb got something to eat and hit the range, while golfer after golfer tried to catch her. Many had their chances, but couldn’t quite catch Webb, including Lydia Ko, who had the third-round lead and birdied four of the first five holes to open her final round and get to 20-under, appearing to run away with the tournament. Ko fell back with bogeys on 6, 9 and 11, but got to within one after her birdie on the par-5 15th.

Webb dodged a number of possible birdie-tying attempts from Ko, Mirim Lee, Azahara Munoz and Amy Yang down the stretch. In the end it was up to Ko, who nearly drained a 25-foot putt to force a playoff, but left it just short, securing the improbable win for Webb.

The win was Webb’s second this season, and 41st in her career, tying her with Babe Zaharias for 10th all-time on the LPGA Tour. 

Webb’s comeback win put the stamp on another great JTBC Founders Cup. Great crowds flocked to Wildfire Golf club to enjoy the great golf and nearly perfect weather, and after the tournament LPGA commissioner Mike Whan announced that $900,000 was raised to benefit LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. Karrie Webb added a personal $25,000 donation to Girls Golf. Now that is a true champion.