Argentina's Eduardo Romero sealed the biggest title of his career with a four-shot victory at the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs on Sunday. Two strokes ahead of the field overnight, the 54-year-old from Cordoba carded a three-over-par 73 for a six-under total of 274 at The Broadmoor Resort. American Fred Funk triple-bogeyed the 13th on his way to a 75 and second place, while Zimbabwe-born Irishman Mark McNulty finished third at one under after closing with a 68. “Man, I'm so happy, so happy,” a beaming Romero told reporters after becoming the second Argentine golfer to clinch the trophy. Roberto De Vicenzo, the 1967 British Open champion, won the title at Winged Foot in 1980. “I played great all week, all week long and then today I make a couple mistakes on the back nine. But it was a great, great week, fantastic for Argentina and South America and for Romero, of course.” Nicknamed “El Gato” (The Cat) because of the way he stalks and overcomes opponents, Romero won his first major title in the senior ranks in a playoff for last year's Tradition tournament outside Portland, Oregon. He clinched his second title on the Champions Tour at last month's Dick's Sporting Goods Open where he triumphed by a shot. Sunday's victory, however, eclipsed those by some distance. “This is the best trophy of my career,” Romero said. “I won nine tournaments in Europe and 85 tournaments in South America but this is the most important tournament, of course. “This is such a fantastic tournament. It's beautiful. When I come here and play the U.S. Open, I tell you, it's a dream to win a tournament. Finally my dream's coming true.” Shin wins by 3 shots Shin Ji-yai became the third South Korean to win the women's British Open with a flawless final round 66 on Sunday. The 20-year-old, who has won 12 times on the Korean LPGA Tour in the last two years, finished on 18 under par and won the $314,000 first prize by three shots from Taiwan's Yani Tseng, who also shot six under. Pak Se-ri was the first South Korean to win the title, also at Sunningdale, in 2001, and Jang Jeong was the champion at Royal Birkdale three years ago. Tseng, winner of her first major at the LPGA Championship in June, birdied the last for a 66 to finish on 15 under and South Korea's Ji Eun-hee Ji (67) and Fudoh (71) were tied for third on 14 under. Japan's Ai Miyazato made it an Asian clean sweep of the top five with a 70 for 13 under. Defending champion Lorena Ochoa of Mexico closed with a 69 for 11 under par to finish tied seventh. An emotional Annika Sorenstam finished her major career by majestically holing a 12-foot birdie putt at the last for a final round 68 and she tied for 24th on six under par. “To finish with a birdie was great,” said Sorenstam, who includes the 2003 Women's British Open among her 10 majors. “I kept it together pretty well today, but I was emotional on the first tee and coming up the final few holes. “I was pleased to play well and to break 70 for the first time this week. I just wish the birdie putt at the last had been for the championship.” As she walked up the final fairway, she was caught in a torrential downpour. “I didn't care about the rain,” she said. “I saw a sign on the scoreboard saying ‘Annika you will be missed' and then I was greeted with all the applause. – Agencies “It's been 15 great years of golf and I just really enjoyed the moment.”
