Andy DevaneyAnna Huang won the PIF Global Series London at Centurion Club in the manner golf reserves for people with unusually strong nerves: by appearing to lose it, watching somebody else lose it back, then making Eagle at the last.
The 17-year-old Canadian survived a late charge from Charley Hull to collect a fourth Ladies European Tour title, a remarkable return for a player who missed the cut at the same event a year ago.
The 16th hole briefly changes everything
At the 16th, Huang found water. Hull, backed by an English gallery that had been waiting for precisely this opening, moved ahead.
“Honestly, I think I thought it was over. I really did think that it, it wasn’t going to be my week,” Huang admitted.
The panic lasted only as long as the next piece of drama. Hull double-bogeyed the 17th, handing the advantage back, and Huang arrived at the par-five 18th with the tournament again in her hands.
She had already eagled the hole on each of the first three days. Naturally, because golf has no respect for reasonable probability, she did it again.
Hull and the crowd supplied the heat
Hull’s Sunday pressure was not theoretical. Huang could hear it, feel it and, by her own admission, was rather intimidated by it.
“It was, it was scary. I’m not gonna lie,” she said.
The crowd was there for Hull, which is hardly an act of treason at a home event. Huang chose not to waste energy pretending otherwise.
“There was a lot of fans, a lot of puppy crowds um even though they weren’t true for me, it was it was really cool to be a part of the moment and I definitely Beat the crowds,” she said.
The transcript has its bruises, but the point survives intact. Huang treated the noise as fuel.
“I think I just used the energy as momentum to keep fighting and keep pushing,” she said.
Plenty of teenagers possess talent until the leaderboard starts staring back. Huang appears increasingly comfortable with the unpleasant bits.
Four eagles turn 18 into Huang’s private property
The 18th became the running joke of Huang’s week. Eagle once and you have played the hole well. Do it four days running and the architect is entitled to request a meeting.
“I think 18 is a really gettable hole, especially if you pump a good drive down the Fairway,” Huang said.
Her own expectations had been more modest.
“I didn’t expect an evil three. I mean, four times at all. I was thinking birdie is a good score there.”
Birdie, as it turned out, was merely the conservative option. The final eagle closed the argument after the water at 16 and Hull’s mistake at 17.
Twelve months from a low point to four LET titles
The speed of Huang’s rise is sharpened by the memory of her previous visit.
“I think I missed the call at this event. Um, just a year ago and I think it was at a really low point in my life and golf just wasn’t really fun any fun for me,” she said.
Her recovery was not presented as some solo act of teenage genius.
“I think just with the help of my family and all the support from my sponsors and everyone, I think I was able to get myself back together.”
Since then, Huang has accumulated four LET victories before turning 18. Official LET coverage noted before the final round that victory would make her the youngest player to reach four titles on the circuit.
Her model has long been Lydia Ko.
“I’ve always looked up to Lydia. She was she’s always been my my idol growing up,” Huang said.
“There’s so much to admire about her game and the way she come, she acts on the core. She’s so calm and composed.”
Composure is often just panic wearing a decent jacket. Huang was under no illusion about how she felt over the decisive putt.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so nervous,” she said.
Huang seems to like the part everyone else fears
Huang is not trying to become nerveless. She appears to want the nerves.
“I think the thrill of competing and being in contention is the most amazing feeling in the world and even though you’re nervous and shaking, it’s something that I’m always rushing for.”
The victory itself may take longer to register.
“I think a little bit but not entirely. It usually takes a couple of days,” Huang said.
Her first proposed celebration was wonderfully practical.
“I don’t know, I probably maybe changed my common flights to business from the way I got home. That’s the first thing.”
Golf has supplied Huang with four LET titles and, for one Sunday at least, a reason to consider more legroom.
Asked for one word to describe the week, she kept it simple.
“Amazing.”
After water, a Hull charge, a double-bogey twist and a fourth eagle at the closing hole, that will do.
