Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn claimed a one-shot win over Minjee Lee to claim the ASI Ladies Scottish Open at Gullane, where Lee-Anne Pace finished in a share of eighth.
Thailand will have a new world number one when the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are released on Monday, after Ariya Jutanugarn conquered rainy conditions to win the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, at Gullane Golf Club, in East Lothian.
Jutanugarn first held the world number one position, for two weeks, in June 2017 and she will resume that position after earning her 11th professional victory on Sunday evening, which was her first on a links golf course.
Reflecting on her performance, she said: ‘I had so much fun. I didn’t expect to win the tournament, because it’s a links course.’
The 22-year-old from Bangkok fired a final round of 66 to finish on 13-under-par, a stroke ahead of Minjee Lee from Australia, but Lee missed an unbelievable birdie chance to force a play-off on the par-4 18th.
Jutanugarn’s wild shot from the 18th tee went left into the long grass and she played her second shot out across the fairway, but she then produced a beautifully judged chip up to within four feet of the hole and rolled in the putt for a par, to clinch the title, worth 192 415 euros, or $225 000. She has now earned $2 022 765 this season and more than $6 606 097 for her career.
Since winning her first professional title as a rookie in the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in 2013, Jutanugarn has won 10 LPGA titles, including her second Major at this year’s US Women’s Open. She said that her third LET title in Scotland, the Home of Golf, holds a special meaning for her.
‘It means a lot to me to win the tournament. I told my caddie this week, you know, what I really want is to win on a links course, just one time in my life would be good, so right now my dream has come true.’
Pace, who was one under in the final round, made the top 10 despite a slow finish which saw her drop shots at the 15th and 17th holes.
Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
