Korda Takes Six-Way Shake at Royal Melbourne

Martin Blake on a popular 6-way playoff win in Australia for 18-year-old Jessica Korda, whose father won the 1998 Australian (tennis) Open.

Petr Korda was not there yesterday, at home in Florida attending to family matters after carrying the bag for his daughter in her difficult rookie season last year. But the family watched on television and they spoke on the phone immediately afterwards. ''He [Petr] said he was so proud of me and we'll talk about the three putts after!''

Mark Hayes on the wacky playoff and chances more experienced players had, including Brittany Lincicome's violently cruel horseshoe lipout that would have ended things early.

And then there were the Koreans, Hee Kyung Seo and So Yeon Ryu, who had played steady golf and appeared to have the trophy in their keeping when eventual champ Jessica Korda stumbled.

Everything looked business as usual even on the 18th green when, inexplicably, after making repeated short par saves all day, they both missed putts from inside 2m.

Brittany Lincicome must have thought all her birthdays had come at once when she had a 2m birdie putt on the first playoff hole.

But the world No.9's delight quickly turned to disbelief when her putt horseshoed out of the cup.
That left her fellow American and world No.10 Stacy Lewis to have her shot at glory.

Stories will be told about this day for years to come, but one thing's for sure - only Korda will remember it as the one that didn't slip away.

She's on Twitter and has her own website.