Golf: a Women’s Open that ‘had it all’

Carnoustie, in Scotland, is one of golf’s most celebrated courses, but its 18th hole has often been a source of “carnage”, said Ewan Murray in The Guardian. And in the final round of the Women’s Open, Nanna Koerstz Madsen became its latest victim.

Tied on 12-under-par with Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, she began the hole with a “live chance of becoming the first Dane to win a male or female major”. But having found the fairway with her opener, she made a hash of her next two shots. Her double-bogey handed Nordqvist the title.

This was a Women’s Open Sunday that “had it all”, said Jamie Corrigan in The Daily Telegraph – a brilliant round of 69 by England’s Georgia Hall, which took her into joint second place; and a bizarre setback for another close contender, Madelene Sagström. After finishing her round, the Swede was informed that on the very first hole of the day, “her ball had been moved back at least 15 yards by an overly inquisitive seagull”.

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The day ended, though, with the “ever-stylish” Nordqvist establishing “her place among Europe’s greats”. The victory brings her tally of majors to three – meaning she joins Annika Sörenstam and Dame Laura Davies, the “two grand Madames of European golf”, as the “only female players from her continent to win three or more majors”.