Golf-Kerr bemoans 'hacker putt' that scuttled U.S. Open bid

By Larry Fine

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania, July 12 (Reuters) - The 'hacker putt' she hit with the tournament on the line at the 16th is what galled an out-of-sorts Cristie Kerr the most during Sunday's final round of the U.S. Women's Open.

After starting the day with a two-stroke lead over eventual winner Ji Eun-hee of South Korea and extending it to three early in the round, Kerr slumped with three bogeys. Still, she found herself tied for the lead with three holes to go.

Facing a 12-foot birdie putt for the outright lead, Kerr missed the cup by nearly two feet to the right and ran it four feet past the hole. The American lipped out the par-putt and took a bogey that ruined her bid.

"I wanted to make it too much and that affected my pace," the 2007 champion told reporters. "I probably should have had my caddie come in and read it with me, but in those situations I usually don't. I usually read it myself and that was my fault.

"I hit it so hard it was ridiculous and I left an even more difficult second putt than I had the first putt. It was almost a hacker putt I hit it so bad.

"I kind of gave it away," she said, although she praised playing partner Ji.

"She played great and made some amazing putts coming down the straight, and obviously the birdie on 18, that's as good as it gets, rolling in that putt," Kerr said about Ji's birdie putt to win the championship on the final hole.

Kerr has been working on her temperament and approach with sports psychologist Joseph Parent, the author of "Zen Golf."