KAREN Stupples ended her recent run of poor form by finishing 10th in the US Women’s Open golf championship in Denver, Colorado.

The British Open champion, from Deal, collected a cheque for $80,523 after finishing five shots behind the winner, Birdie Kim of Korea, with an eight-over-par total of 292.

However, at one stage it looked as though Karen was set to land her second major title after she held the joint lead at the end of the third round thanks to a superb 69, which included a run of six successive birdies over the tough Cherry Hills Country Club course.

That equalled the best birdie streak on the LPGA Tour this year, and the 31-year-old admitted: "To birdie so many holes in a row kind of felt a bit unreal really."

Stupples then fell away in the final round with a seven-over-par 78, but her overall performance will give her just the lift she needed before defending her British Open crown at Royal Birkdale at the end of the month.

She said: "After last season, I think I set my expectations too high for this year, and I have definitely under-achieved to this point.

"I worked on fitness and strengthened up over the winter, so I had to make an equipment change in April.

"I now have clubs with stronger shafts which mean I can hit better quality shots, and I felt that my game was starting to turn round in the last few weeks."

Karen will return home from the States to compete in the English Ladies’ Open at Chart Hills GC from July 8-10.