18th-hole birdie gives Kerr Malaysia win

Veteran American Cristie Kerr has claimed her 20th career victory on the LPGA Tour with success at the TPC in Kuala Lumpur.

American golfer Cristie Kerr

American Cristie Kerr has claimed victory in Kuala Lumpur, her 20th career win on the LPGA Tour. (AAP)

Cristie Kerr has made her 20th career victory on the LPGA Tour one to remember.

Locked in a four-way tie for the lead going to the 18th hole, Kerr made a 35-foot birdie putt for an even-par 71 and a one-shot victory in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia to cap off a wild finish at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

Kerr, who won earlier this year in Hawaii, became the 27th player in LPGA Tour with 20 career victories.

"What a way to win," Kerr said. "I always said I wanted to get a win by my 40s, and I got it pretty quick."

Kerr, who celebrated her 40th birthday on October. 12, became the first player since Catriona Matthew (42) at the 2011 Lorena Ochoa Invitational to win in her 40s.

This one packed a little more excitement than she anticipated.

She took a one-shot lead over defending champion Shanshan Feng into the final round, only to slip into a tie for the lead with a double bogey on the par-3 seventh hole.

Kerr still had the tournament in her grasp until a two-shot swing on the 17th hole - Kerr made bogey and Feng made birdie.

Danielle Kang, who won the Women's PGA Championship this year for her first major, closed with a 66 and Jacqui Concolino had a 67. They also were tied for the lead and waiting to see if there would be a playoff.

Kerr made sure there wasn't.

For a player who has made a career with her short game, even Kerr was impressed. As the photographers were lining up for the trophy presentation, Kerr and her caddie went back to the spot and stepped off the putt one more time.

"I knew it was going to be like a five-way playoff," Kerr said. "I was just like, 'Got to do it. Got to do it.' The only thing I could control was trusting my line and hitting the putt with the speed to make it. And I did it."

Sarah Jane Smith was tied for 13th to be the highest placed Australian.

Minjee Lee was one of a cluster of players to finish in 29th.


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Source: AAP



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