Former Cowgirl Lindberg wins ANA Inspiration in playoff over Park

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Former Oklahoma State All-American Pernilla Lindberg sank a 30-foot putt to outduel Inbee Park on the eighth playoff hole to win the ANA Inspiration, the year’s first LPGA major.

The victory is the first of Lindberg’s professional career and is the first major win by a Cowgirl golf alumnae.

“I dreamt of this moment ever since I was a kid,” said Lindberg immediately after the win. “I remember writing goals when I was high school to win a major and I thought it was too good of dream to come true, but it has.”

Lindberg carded rounds of 65-67-70-71 (-15) 273 and led the event wire-to-wire. She was joined in the playoff by Park and Jennifer Song, who bowed out after three holes. Darkness halted the playoff after four holes, and the ANA Inspiration would have to be settled on Monday for the first time in the event’s 47-year history.

Both Lindberg and Park had opportunities to seal the championship on the first three holes of the morning, but it came down to the eighth playoff hole on the par-4 10th. Lindberg was first to putt and steam-rolled a 30-foot birdie into the back of the cup. Park was unable to answer with her 15-footer.

Originally from Bollnäs, Sweden, Lindberg is a three-time NGCA All-American, including a pair of first-team nods, and a four-time NGCA All-American Scholar. The 2008 Big 12 Player of the Year turned pro in 2010, and entered the ANA Inspiration ranked No. 95 in the world.

Lindberg wasn’t the only OSU alum with an impressive showing at the year’s first major. Her Cowgirl teammate, Caroline Masson, tied for ninth just four strokes back thanks to rounds of 72-68-69-68 (-11) 277.

Masson and Lindberg were Cowgirl teammates on the 2009 Big 12 championship squad, but have been competitors on the LPGA Tour since 2010. The two also battled at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.