Caroline Masson Notches 1st LPGA Victory

Germany’s Carolina Masson is going to have a bang-up homecoming this week! After notching her first LPGA victory at the Manulife LPGA Classic, Masson hopped a red-eye to Germany and began limbering up her sticks for the LET Ladies European Masters at Golf Club Hubbelrath in Düsseldorf, her home course.

Masson faced quite a challenging field at the Manulife.  She started the final round alongside Minjee Lee and trailing leader Mi Hyang Lee by three shots. The Whistle Bear Golf Club provided a very receptive field for the final round and after starting with a double bogey Masson took full advantage of the favorable conditions.  She recovered quickly from her initial stumble, birding the next three holes going on to finish with six additional birdies and two bogeys putting together a solid round and finishing at 16-under par, one shot ahead of the chasing pack that included Mi Hyang Lee, Minjee Lee, and Karine Icher.

Watch highlights from first time winner and champion of the @ManulifeClassic, @CaroMasson!https://t.co/o5Yaoo7FhR pic.twitter.com/9efpQwYwEv

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 4, 2016

In addition to her 2012 breakthrough win at the South African Women’s Open, Masson has twice played for Europe in the Solheim Cup (2013 and 2015) and, with Sandra Gal, represented Germany in the Rio Olympics. She’s going to be a local favorite this week in Düsseldorf, as will Sandra Gal, who is also playing the Ladies European Masters before going on to Evian-les-Bains the following week.

It looked for a time on the back nine at the Manulife that Ariya Jutanugarn would overtake Masson and force a playoff, but a wild drive on the 15th sent Jutanugarn back to the tee box and despite a miraculous bogey save for the hole she dropped a shot and wasn’t able to close the gap.

The race between Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn continues to tighten as the Tour closes in on the season-ending Race to the CME Globe and the coveted LPGA Player of the Year award. Neither Ko nor Jutanugarn was delivering her peak game this week in Canada. Both have been playing heavy schedules and a two week rest should bring the two phenoms back to condition in time for the season’s final major, the Evian Championship.

Cover Photo via Twitter