Nasa Hataoka began the final round of the DIO Implant LA Open with a four-shot lead and never wavered. Right from the start, the Japanese star poured in putts like someone on a mission, birdieing four of the first seven holes. Even her curling bogey putt on the sixth was impressive.
“My putting good all week,” she said, “that’s it.”
She held a five-shot lead over Hannah Green at the turn and won by the same margin. This marks Hataoka’s sixth LPGA victory and her first since the 2021 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Prior to this week, her best finish of the season was a share of 11th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
