Julieta Granda is a millionaire, becoming the LPGA winner of the first $1 million dollar prize in women’s golf. Not bad for a rookie.

She first started playing golf at the age of 4. She later moved to Florida to get professional schooling at the David Ledbetter Golf Academy for her golf game.

Julieta was a member of the Canon Cup Team in 2002 and 2003. 

From 2001 to 2004 she was named to the AJGA All-American Team. In 2004 she was named the Athlete of the Year in Paraguay, as well as being the individual champion at the 2004 World Amateur Team Championship. Adding to her accomplishments in 2004 Julieta was named the 2004 American Junior Golf Association Rolex Player of the Year.
In June of 2005 Julieta turned professional. Julieta was disappointed at herself for finishing second in her professional debut at the Futures Tour Tournament. In August of 2005 she won the YWCA Futures Classic. A statement to many that she had finally done what she set out to do, win. Julieta also tied for sixth place at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament Presented by American Airlines to earn exempt status for the 2006 LPGA Tour and begin her official Rookie year.

Thus far in 2006 she has 30 starts, 7 top 10 finishes and 1 victory. That one victory at the ADT Championship at Trump International made her 2006 earnings $1,633,586, making money no longer a worry. Julieta and her mother can now ditch the bikes and once again rent cars for more than just tournaments. 

[tag-tec]Julieta Granada[/tag-tec]  wins the ADT Championship final round today at the Trump International Golf Course. [tag-tec]Lorena Ochoa[/tag-tec] wins second and [tag-tec]Karrie Webb[/tag-tec] places third.

On the line was the largest check in [tag-tec]LPGA[/tag-tec] history, One Million Dollars.  The LPGA has come a long way indeed.

The [tag-tec]ADT Championship[/tag-tec] used a format never before seen on any tour. They played the first three rounds in stroke play and the top eight lowest scores advanced to the final round. Once qualified for the final round the player’s previous scores were erased and play started over.  They effectively started a new tournament between eight players battling for the largest check ever seen on the [tag-ice]LPGA[/tag-ice]. This format has merit and may show itself again on tour.

Granada’s short history on the LPGA tour started just two years ago after playing on the futures tour. Starting out Julieta did not have enough money too afford a caddie. She asked her mom, Rosa, if she would continue to caddie for her. Her mom was there all weekend by Julieta’s side lugging around that big staff golf bag. Rosa must be the proudest caddie that ever lived.

Julieta celebrated her twentieth birthday this weekend along with Natalie Gulbis who turned twenty five. Gulbis finished this season with the indubious title of earning more money than anyone in the history of LPGA golf without a victory.

Scores were close all day and while Granada was putting on the eighteenth green Ochoa and Webb were teeing off the par three, 169 yard, seventeenth. Granada was leading Ochoa by one stroke and Webb by two. With water on both sides of the green and a million dollars up for grab the pressure showed. Webb knocked it into water on the right and Ochoa follows knocking it in on the left side. Both make one putt saving bogies but it was all over unless Lorena eagled the eighteenth. Not this time.

On the eighteenth Granada dropped a long two putt and finished the day at -4, (68) for the win. In the post game interview Julieta mentioned an email she received this morning from her instructor, David Leadbetter telling her, “Relax, it’s not your million dollars you’re betting out there.” Winning a million dollars moved Granada from sixteenth on the season ending money list to fourth overall. A fine week’s work.

Lorena Ochoa finishes the season winning Player of the Year, Leading Money Winner, and Lowest Season Scoring Average. It was quite an impressive year for this LPGA star from Guadalajara, Mexico. Karrie Webb finishes second on the money list and Annika Sorenstam third.