Lilia Vu rallies to win The Annika, her fourth LPGA Tour win of 2023

BELLEAIR — Lilia Vu entered Sunday’s final round of The Annika three strokes behind leader Emily Kristine Pedersen and with the mindset she had nothing to lose.

It turned out that Vu had plenty to gain over the final 18 holes. The native Californian shot 4-under 66 at Pelican Golf Club to finish at 19-under 261, winning her fourth LPGA Tour tournament of the year and moving back atop the world rankings.

“I think usually when I go into Sunday, I feel like I haven’t won the tournaments yet,” Vu said. “So there’s really nothing to lose, and I was just going to go out there and try and make a bunch of birdies. But (Sunday) it was a little harder, so I did my best with what I had.”

It was more than enough, as Vu finished three shots ahead of American Alison Lee (67) and Spain’s Azahara Munoz (67).

With five birdies and just one bogey, Vu claimed the $487,500 first prize, giving her $3,252,303 in earnings for the season. This year she also has won two major championships, The Chevron Championship and the British Women’s Open, and the LPGA Thailand.

She joins Celine Boutier as the only players with four victories this season, putting them neck and neck for the points-based player of the year award heading into next weekend’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at Naples for the top 60 in the point standings.

Boutier missed the cut this weekend.

For Vu, The Annika ranks alongside her first major win, at the Chevron in April at The Woodlands, Texas.

“I think I want more wins in America, and to add this one to my results has been really great,” Vu said. “And to be (in World Golf Hall of Famer) Annika (Sorenstam’s) event is just amazing.”

Sorenstam, for whom the former Pelican Women’s Championship was renamed, sees a great future for Vu, 26.

“There’s no weaknesses,” Sorenstam said. “I’ve watched her grow into a great golfer and a great young lady. She has the passion; she has the heart. She also has two majors this year; that’s not too shabby. I think we’ll see a lot more of her.”

Vu is having a comeback season.

After struggling in her first season on the tour in 2019, she spent the next two years on the developmental Epson Tour. She broke out this year. But after beating fellow Californian Angel Yin in a playoff at The Chevron Championship, Vu failed to make the cut in four events, including the Women’s PGA Championship and U.S. Women’s Open, and last week she was passed by Boutier in the world rankings.

The difference in her game is the way she approaches the peaks and valleys, Vu said.

“I think it’s been all mindset for me,” she said. “I am not a technical player. I just try and play the course the way it’s given to me and go from there.”

Vu’s ability to handle pressure was on display early Sunday. She birdied the third, fourth and sixth holes to pull into a tie with Pedersen, the second- and third-round leader. When Pedersen bogeyed the par-4 eighth hole, Vu moved into the lead.

Pedersen did not have a birdie in the final round. She had two bogeys and a double bogey, dropping her approach shot on the final hole into the water, and shot 74 to finish 14 under, five shots behind Vu.

Vu saw her real victory as her ability to correct her mindset early on the back nine. She credited caddie Cole Pensanti with helping snap her out of some negative thinking after she made bogey on the par-3 12th.

“I missed a little 4-footer and teed off on 13 and miss-hit my drive,” Vu said. “I was 40 yards behind everyone, and I didn’t like my first shot on, and I was a little ‘soggy diapers’ about that. (Pensanti) definitely knew, and he hates it when I get like that. But he said the right thing from it, and it worked out.”

Vu, who also jokingly credited her success to the steaks at Texas Roadhouse, called 2023 “phenomenal for me, more than I expected.”

“Last year was really hard on myself,” she said. “And then from before, just being on the Epson Tour and just thinking about not even playing anymore, I think I’m glad I didn’t give up, and I’m here now.”

South Korea’s Amy Yang (70) finished four shots back. With Pedersen at 14 under was Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia (67).

Two-time defending champion Nelly Korda shot 70 and was in a group at 8 under.

Contact Kristie Ackert at kackert@tampabay.com.