The victory was Lilia Vu’s fourth this yr.
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For the second time in her previous six begins (and fourth time this LPGA season), Lilia Vu discovered herself atop the leaderboard as soon as the ultimate putt had dropped, incomes a surprising victory on the Annika Pushed by Gainbridge.
The 26-year-old Vu started Sunday three pictures again of chief Emily Kristine Pedersen, however began sturdy to go away the remainder of the sphere in her mud, finally ending at 4-under on the day, and ending at 19-under for the match.
The three-stroke win over Allison Lee additionally returns her to the highest of the Rolex Rankings.
Vu acknowledged that her ultimate spherical was a bit drama-filled, however she rose above the stress because of some ideas from her caddie, Cole Pensanti.
“I believe every win of mine has had its personal battle, and I believe in the present day was once more myself … I believe the wheels had been falling off early within the again 9,” Vu mentioned. “Then my caddie mentioned to me, ‘Hey, it doesn’t matter the place you hit it on the inexperienced; you can also make a putt from wherever.’”
With three birdies in six holes to open her spherical on Sunday, Vu established a tone that caught together with her all the day, relentlessly hitting each shot she wanted to so as to draw back.
“I believe that [pep talk from Pensanti] flipped my mindset,” she added. “I used to be getting unfavourable after which simply flipped a change and simply thought optimistic ideas, after which it simply all labored itself out.”
The victory at Pelican Golf Membership is an important one for Vu, and now locations her 27 factors forward of Celine Boutier within the Rolex Participant of the Yr race. With only one match left on the LPGA schedule — subsequent week’s CME Group Tour Championship — Vu’s win places her in prime place to earn the excellence.
Even when Boutier ought to win on the CME Group Tour Championship, Vu can nonetheless end throughout the high 8 so as to seize LPGA Participant of the Yr honors.
If she manages that, Vu would turn out to be the primary American to win the award since 2014 when Stacy Lewis did it.
For now, she’s centered on this weekend’s victory, leaning on little nuggets that she will study from as she enters subsequent week’s finale.
Lilia Vu, once on top of the world, nearly quit golf. Now she’s a major champion
“It’s mindset. I believe it’s all been mindset for me,” Vu mentioned. “I’m not a technical participant. I try to play the course the best way it’s given to me after which simply go from there.
“The subsequent shot might be the perfect shot you ever hit. And that’s a mindset I take into consideration on a regular basis. I believe that helps with calming the nerves and doing what’s in entrance of me and being the place my ft are.”
Together with her confidence beaming in the meanwhile, Vu seems prepared for her subsequent problem.
“I do know I are typically onerous on myself,” Vu mentioned. “So long as I set myself sort of straightforward, simply to be in rivalry on the weekend, then it sort of simply in some way occurs.”
