Finally, A Win for Natalie Gulbis

Natalie Gulbis has long endured comparisons to tennis siren Anna Kournikova, and the comparisons have rarely been meant as a compliment. Kournikova never won a tennis singles titles; she seemed more focused on being viewed as a pinup girl than as a world-class athlete.

I explained two years ago why I though this was an unfair comparison:

Natalie Gulbis, on the other hand, has a commitment to golf that can't be questioned at this point. You don't spend your entire offseason working every day with Butch Harmon if you don't have a serious desire to improve your game and make it to the winner's circle.

Gulbis is only 22, and with a drive to succeed that her work with Harmon speaks to, we'll be surprised if she turns out to be as light on actual accomplishments as Kournikova.

It's taken longer than I thought it would, and much longer than Gulbis expected it to, but Natalie Gulbis is finally a winner on the LPGA Tour. So let's officially put to rest forever any comparisons to Kournikova.

Gulbis won the Evian Masters in France on Sunday, claiming one of the highest-dollar tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She did it by winning a playoff over Jeong Jang, birdying the first extra hole.

Gulbis was asked in the post-tournament press conference what this first victory means to her. "What does it mean?" she replied. "How long do you have?"

I'm certain one thing it means is that Gulbis will win at least a few more times in her career. Win No. 2 will be quicker coming than win No. 1 was.

See also:

• Natalie Gulbis pictures

(Photo by Patrick Micheletti; used with permission)