Inbee Park's quest for a 20th LPGA Tour victory came up short when she was eliminated in a three-way playoff at the Tournament of Champions in Florida on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The LPGA Hall of Famer started the final round with a two-shot lead but managed only an even-par 71 at the Four Seasons Club in Orlando.
But after falling into a playoff with Nasa Hataoka (68) and Gaby Lopez (66) at 13-under 271, 31-year-old Park was eliminated after hitting her tee shot into water at the third extra hole, the par-three 18th.
When Lopez, clad in the red and green colours of Mexico, and Japan's Hataoka scrambled to get up-and-down for their pars, Park dropped to 3-5 in her LPGA career in playoffs.
"I think just No.18 got me yesterday and today," said Park, who had three-putted the hole for bogey a day earlier.
"If I shoot under par (Sunday), I should have won. That's golf."
The 2016 Olympic champion was seeking to become the second South Korean to post at least 20 victories on the American-based circuit, after Se Ri Pak (25).
21-year-old Hataoka and Lopez could not be separated in five extra holes, and after it was called too dark to continue, they'll both return on Monday morning to resume the playoff.
A victory by Hataoka would be her fourth on the LPGA Tour, which would tie Hiromi Kobayashi for the third-most by a Japanese player, behind Ayako Okamoto (17) and Ai Miyazato (nine).
Lopez has one career win.
Monday's winner will earn $US180,000 ($A262,000).
Australian Associated Press
