For Jang, This Win Is Major

After Jeong Jang had wrapped up the Women’s British Open, Annika Sorenstam took a moment to contemplate her own failed bid for her third major title of the year.

“I’m not so disappointed. I think J.J. just played incredible,” Sorenstam said. “I think she would have been very hard to catch today. So my hat’s off to her. She played excellent.”

Jang, who led after each round and entered the day with a five-stroke lead, shot a three-under-par 69 Sunday to finish at 16-under 272 at Royal Birkdale and win by four shots. It was the first victory of her six-year LPGA career.

Sorenstam, trying for the 10th major of her career, knew she had lost by the time she came to the final hole.

To make matters worse, she lost her ball off the tee on the way to a double bogey at the 18th and wound up in a tie for fifth, seven shots back.

Sorenstam’s 71 left her at nine-under 279. Sophie Gustafson, who won the tournament in 2000 before it became a major, was the closest to Jang after a 67 gave her a 12-under 276.

Michelle Wie, the 15-year-old amateur playing her final tournament before returning to high school in Hawaii, birdied the last two holes for a 69 and finished at 10-under 278 and in a tie for third place with Young Kim, who also shot a 69.

Jang, in the same group as Sorenstam, knew the Swede had a 74-0 advantage over her in tournament victories and a 9-0 lead in major titles. It didn’t seem to matter.

“It’s this course,” Jang said. “I had a lot of confidence because I hit my driver low. I had a lot of confidence in practice, and I didn’t tell anybody.”