Golf: Davies in putter splutter

BRITAIN'S LAURA Davies was left to rue some woeful putting after her hopes of a fifth major success slipped away at the McDonald's LPGA Championship in Wilmington, Delaware, on Sunday.

Davies saw her challenge evaporate in the final nine holes as she eventually finished joint seventh on nine under par.

The big-hitting Briton had fought her way into contention at just one off the lead after reaching the turn in three-under 32. She continued to rattle the stick on the back nine, but could not make a putt.

"I swear no one played better tee to green all week," said Davies after throwing her putter down in frustration. "I only missed five greens all week and hit it close all the time, but it's impossible to play if you can't putt.

"I was feeling so good and it is so annoying, but I've no idea what I've got to do to change my luck on the greens."

Juli Inkster had no such worries as she staged an extraordinary finale to claim her place in the history books with a victory. An eagle-birdie- birdie finish in a round of 65 enabled the 39-year-old American to join Pat Bradley as the only players to complete the modern-day grand slam of four women's majors. Fifteen years after winning the first two legs as a rookie, Inkster has now secured the other two in a span of three weeks.

After victory in the US Open earlier this month, Inkster produced a final burst that saw her hole putts of 20, eight and 25 feet to win by four shots on a 16-under-par 268 from Sweden's Liselotte Neumann.

"It's unbelievable. I can hardy believe it's happened, but I just couldn't miss with the putter," she said.