The triumph also earned her an exemption into next year’s U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica at Pebble Beach. “I’ll have to set my schedule now,” said McGill when told about the exemption to Pebble Beach. “I look forward to it. That place is heaven on earth.” McGill, who was paired with Annika Sorenstam in the final round on Sunday, also played with Sorenstam in the final round of the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes. McGill began that day two strokes off Sorenstam’s lead but started bogey-bogey on her way to a 78 as Juli Inkster closed with a 66 to win by two strokes over Sorenstam. This time, it was McGill who got the best of Sorenstam, the defending champion who was briefly tied with Laura Davies, the 2018 champ, and Helen Alfredsson, who won in 2019, for the final-round lead after a birdie on No. 1. But Sorenstam, who had trouble finding consistency all week, fell back with three consecutive bogeys beginning on No. 3 and shot 77. For much of the day it appeared that Davies would capture this title for the second time. When Davies made the turn at five under par, she was two strokes ahead of McGill and three clear of Alfredsson.
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