Webb pursuit of hat-trick ends early

Shortly after she finished with a 12-foot par putt that did not matter, Karrie Webb changed into her tennis shoes and walked briskly through the parking lot at Prairie Dunes Country Club here early yesterday afternoon. It already was time to leave the US Women's Open.

Two days ago, Webb thought she had an excellent chance to win an unprecedented three successive titles. After making only one birdie in 36 holes, she left wondering what happened to her game in the tournament she dominated for two years.

The 27-year-old Australian opened with a nine-over-par 79, her worst round ever in America. She followed that up with a 73 yesterday, playing the final seven holes realising she had little chance of even making it to the weekend.

Webb joined some exclusive company, just not the kind she had in mind. The last woman with a chance to win three successive Opens was Annika Sorenstam in 1997 at Pumpkin Ridge. She also missed the cut.

"I've always done well under pressure," she said. "The biggest shock for me was that normally I thrive on that. And this time, I went the other way."

Webb won her first Women's Open at the Merit Club near Chicago by five shots, then added an eight-stroke victory last year at Pine Needles.

Whatever chance she had this week was gone after a 79 in the opening round. She figured she needed even-par 70 yesterday to make the cut, but after an opening bogey her tournament essentially ended when she missed the fairway with an iron and playing short of the green at her 12th. She pitched to about 10 feet but her par putt rippled over the right lip.

Thus ended her streak of 56 consecutive cuts, dating back to the Safeway Championship on 25 Sept 1999, in Portland.

Britain's Janice Moodie shot a second-round 72 to finish on three-over-par 143 and just three shots behind the early 36-hole target of level-par 140 set by the American Michele Redman.

In tough, gusty conditions, England's Joanne Morley produced the best round of the early starters with a two-under 68 and made sure of making the weekend cut. The Cheshire player had struggled to a 78 in the first round. "This course is so hard, but it's also one of the best I've played," she said. "Every hole is fantastic, and I'm just delighted that I have another chance to play over the weekend."

Moodie added: "I'm using a new putter this week and the key today was that I made a number of great saving par putts."