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Imagine trying to win a major championship like this? These photos show how dark it really was at the ANA Inspiration on Sunday
Perhaps you've seen this scene at the end of an amateur tournament—or, yes, the "Legend of Bagger Vance"—where an event is chasing sunlight and mandates officials or fans to shine sort of artificial light on the greens and fairways to help competitors see. Well, that actually happened on Sunday, at the finale of a major championship—the ANA Inspiration, the first women's major of the year. There were no car headlights, instead, just floodlights brought out to help players see on the 18th green.
Inbee Park, Pernilla Lindberg and Jennifer Song attempted to finish their playoff, but eventually ran out of time. Song was eliminated on the third playoff hole with a bogey—and Park and Lindberg were given the option by tournament officials whether they wanted to continue playing. Though it was pretty close to pitch black, the two agreed to keep on—yes, by the aide of floodlights that were turned on behind the 18th green.
“Pernilla said yes, and I said, OK, then we'll play,” Park said. “I knew it was getting a little bit on the edge there, but, yeah, we both finished with a par, which is good in the dark, I think."
Yeah, we'd say. Look how dark it actually was as they played the fourth playoff hole ... for a major title!
With so much on the line -- Lindberg, searching for a potential career-changing first major title, and for Park, her eighth major championship, which would further cement her legacy -- the two fought on.
And like Park said, it was impressive both women made pars.
They'll continue playing at 11 a.m. (eastern) on Monday at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.