2.21 a.m. BST 02:21
Kupcho’s first big title is well worth it. Yesterday’s 64th best of the week may have been the deciding factor, but her response to that slight swing in the back nine today was, in her own way, almost as impressive. Just as it seemed that Jessica Corda could seduce her, as the seven-year lead was reduced to two, Kupcho played the 15th to perfection, making a bird that stayed on the ship, after which he never seemed in danger. She now stars in 2022 Dinah Shore along with the Augusta National title for 2019, and has also made history as the last player to make the famous leap to Poppie’s Pond. A good chance to make many more leaps forward in the coming years. Thanks for reading this report hole by hole. Good 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 at 2.27 a.m. BST
2.12 p.m. BST 02:12
Kupcho, having marked Is and crossed the T on her scorecard, returns at 18 for the awards ceremony. Melissa Montgomery, the daughter of tournament founder Dinah Shore, is gaining much recognition. Then there’s the Chevron-type corporate attack. And finally our new champion is awarded the Dinah Shore Trophy. He lifts it in the air, before offering Montgomery a grip. Pictures, after another conversation with NBC. “I was so close sometimes. “It’s really difficult, but here I am.” She then makes the final jump into Lake Poppie’s Pond with her husband and the blanket. As she floats in the air towards the chariot, a smile almost as wide as the pond and warm as the desert sun shines on her face. A moment to enjoy, right there.
2.01 p.m. BST 02:01
A quick word with NBC. “Oh man! I’m still shaking. It was so much fun to be out there. It’s so hard work!” She leaves to check her score. Speaking of which … -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
1.58 a.m. BST 01:58
Jennifer Kupcho wins the Chevron 2022 Championship!
Can’t do par putt, but it really makes no difference. She gets a kick out of a final round of 74, and is now a major winner as well as a champion of Augusta National! Her husband, a whole month, arrives for a hug. She has been sprayed with champagne. It’s emotional!
01:55 BST 01:55
Kupcho can not do her bird, as it is very important. The ball passes four feet. Before the crucial moment, Tavatanakit takes her eagle. Nothing has happened to her all day, not even that. It is compatible with the bird, a final round of 72 and a quarter share. This is a good defense of her title.
01:50 BST 01:50
Kupcho sends a wedge of 100 yards. Above the drink and on the green. He can enjoy the ride now! She is going to be the last winner of Dinah Shore in Mission Hills … and the last woman to make this festive leap in Poppie’s Pond!
01:48 BST 01:48
Kupcho, who does not take anything for granted all day, keeping her emotions under control, finally leaves herself with a big smile as she wanders in the middle of 18th Street. He is so close now and he knows the deal is as good as it got. Lie down in front of the water with the second. The ball just avoids a huge difference. This may have upset some nerves! Meanwhile, Tavatanakit decides to go out with one blow, whipping a stick over the water and in the heart of the green, the ball rolls towards the flag, coming to rest eight feet behind the pin. One of the highlights of the day!
01:44 BST 01:44
Here comes the biggest photo from Jennifer Kupcho’s life! Outgoing champion Patty Tavatanakit shows her the way, splitting the 18th Fairway. Kupcho makes it absolutely striped! A very good chance to put on her chest with her second … mainly because in the green, Jessica Korda’s shot breaks weakly to the right, and that is equivalent to a final round of 69. The week ends at -12, right now in second place alone. -15: Kupcho (17) -12: J Korda (F) -11: Babnik (F) -10: Shibuno (F), Boutier (F), Thompson (F) -9: Tavatanakit (17)
01:40 BST 01:40
Kupcho rolls with its weak paint and reduces the damage. The lead is only three. Korda meanwhile reaches the 18th green, where she will have to do her birdie to put all kinds of pressure on Kupcho. -15: Kupcho (17) -12: Korda (17) -11: Babnik (F)
01:38 BST 01:38
Kupcho’s par putt has many breaks from left to right. He pulls his lips out and rolls many feet out of the hole. Still work for the bobblehead. Par for Tavatanakit in the meantime. And by 18, Korda is pushing a wedge of sand straight into the flag, leaving a fairly straight 12-foot for the bird.
01:35 BST 01:35
Kupcho makes a mess with another t-shirt on a first three-pointer, pushing her iron to 17 well wide to the right of the green. It is short-sighted, climbs to a green with a downward slope. He chooses to push over the flag, leaving an uphill shell for the exchange rate. Smart game, given its four-year lead. Until 18, meanwhile, is the time of crisis for Korda, who has torn off her t-shirt that fell in the middle. She is chasing an eagle … but she does not want to keep the green with any of the bats in her bag, so she lies down.
01:32 BST 01:32
Lexi Thompson punches a tram at 18 for one of the biggest cheers of the day! A bird and an audience the best – of-day 66. The week ends at -10. Lots of ups and downs for Lexi in Mission Hills – her win in 2014, this four-year penalty in 2017 – so it’s good to see her come out with an outburst … and a huge smile on her face. It’s worth it, having contributed so much to the story here.
01:28 BST 01:28
Kupcho lags behind her long bird at 16 in the distance from the kick-in and is a hole closer to Poppie’s Pond. A par for Korda at 17. The look on her face indicates that she knows very well that her fight is running. And back at 16, another edge for Tavatanakit, whose athlete behaves badly all day. Another boob, and slips to -9.
01:21 BST 01:21
Kupcho and Tavatanakit have been put on the watch, although neither seems to have accelerated. It’s hard to pick the wrong one with a maiden major on the line. Kupcho splits the Fairway into 16, is slow to think of her wedge and finds the center of the green. No heroics looking for a pin.
1.16 a.m. BST 01:16 …
