Gulbis relieved to finally earn her first tour victory

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2007-07-29-gulbis-wins_N.htm

Gulbis relieved to finally earn her first tour victory
By Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY

By making a tap-in birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday in the Evian Masters, Natalie Gulbis backhanded nagging comparisons to former tennis star Anna Kournikova.

Gulbis claimed her first victory in 151 tournaments by defeating South Korea's Jeong Jang in the playoff after the pair finished at 4-under 284 at the 6,283-yard Evian Masters Golf Club in Evian-Les-Bains, France.

Gulbis, 24, who has her own calendars and reality television show, now has a victory, something the photogenic Kournikova never achieved in pro singles action.

LPGA tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens acknowledged that when she congratulated Gulbis after colleague Christina Kim doused Gulbis with champagne. The victory ceremony also included multiple cannons shooting off silver confetti and two parachutists dropping from the sky to drape Gulbis in an American flag.

"She said I will never be known as the Anna Kournikova of golf anymore," Gulbis said in a phone interview with USA TODAY minutes after receiving her trophy. "What does this mean to me? How much time do you have?

"I couldn't put my head up during the ceremony because I was crying. It seems so surreal. I can't wait to get back to the United States to watch the tape and celebrate with my friends. It's a long-anticipated event."

Gulbis fired a 2-under 70 in the final round. Jang, who never held a share of the lead until her birdie on the 18th hole in regulation, shot 72. The two returned to the par-5 18th hole for the playoff, where Gulbis two-putted from 25 feet while Jang managed only a par after hitting over the green.

Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa finished a stroke back in a tie for third place with Juli Inkster and South Korea's Ji-Yai Shin. Inkster, who led by two after 54 holes, made bogey on three of her final five holes and three-putted the par-5 18th after reaching the green in two shots.

Gulbis' mom, Barbara, was in France for the win. Gulbis' dad, John, who taught her to play, was in her hometown of Las Vegas, awakened at 5 a.m. by friends alerting him that his daughter was in contention.

"I wish my dad was here, but having my mom here is really special," Gulbis said. "They've helped me so much. I just tried to stay positive through all of this, and I can't thank them enough."

Gulbis, who won $450,000, gave credit to a lower back injury two months ago that forced her to take a month off and make adjustments.

"I had to change my golf swing because of my injury," she said. "I was kind of thinking this might be a blessing in disguise."

Gulbis moved up 30 spots on the money list to 15th. She also earned entry into the season-ending ADT Championship in November and essentially secured a spot on the USA's Solheim Cup team that faces Europe in the biennial trans-Atlantic match play competition in September.

And she goes into this week's Women's British Open at the Old Course in St. Andrews on a high. She said she'll celebrate today and get back to work Tuesday.

But she needs a new headcover. When Gulbis turned pro six years ago after a year at the University of Arizona, she vowed to keep the headcover of Wilbur the Wildcat, the U of A mascot, on her driver until she won.

"As soon as I made the putt to win, I walked over to the golf bag, grabbed Wilbur and said, 'See ya,' " Gulbis said. "My whole goal this year was to win a tournament. And now, this win will inspire me to get another one."