Ariya Jutanugarn, aged 20 years, won the Ricoh Women’s British Open on Sunday and became the first Thai player, male or female, to win a major.
The new champ carded a level-par 72 on Sunday at Woburn Golf & Country Club to finish two strokes clear of runners-up Mirim Lee and Mo Martin.
Jutanugarn began the day at 16-under-par and had a two-shot lead. She flew to a five-shot advantage by the turn, but her game started to unravel on the back nine.
In spite of her struggles, the four-time LPGA Tour winner sank a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 17th for a two-shot advantage and a comfortable walk down the last hole.
It was a vidicating performance for the young star, who faltered on the stretch at the ANA Inspiration earlier this year.
‘I think I know how to play under pressure,’ she said. ‘I know what I have to focus and the only thing I have to is focus on what is under my control.’
Mirim Lee finished second at 13-under par with Mo Martin. Stacy Lewis was fourth at 11-under par.
South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace shot a Sunday 71 to tie for 17th place, while Ashleigh Simon finished in a share of 47th ahead of her trip to the Olympic Games in Rio next week.
