Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn wins Women’s British Open

Now, she’s the first Thai major victor.

But overcoming adversity helped her win Sunday’s Open title and become the first golfer from her country to win a major.

Jutanugarn, who has come close to major triumphs at the ANA Inspiration and the PGA Championship, kept her nerve despite a bogey on the ninth and a double bogey on the 13.

“I’m pretty sure I learned a lot from that because when I feel nervous I now know what to do”, she said.

“I really want to try to be like relaxed before the shot, ” said Jutanugarn, in position to jump from sixth to third in the world ranking with a victory. And Saturday, she shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 to pull two strokes ahead of Lee and break the tournament 54-hole record of 201.

The South Korean birdied three holes in a row from the tenth, and when Ariya had two nervy chips and double-bogeyed the 13th the advantage was down to one.

But Jutanugarn stood firm, and landed a snaking 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole before comfortably making par in front of the crowds on the final hole to secure her fourth title of the year.

Jutanugarn played the final five holes in 1 under for an even-par 72 and a three-stroke victory over American Mo Martin and South Korea’s Mirim Lee.

Since the ANA Inspiration, Ariya has made a decision to start her pre-shot routine by smiling in order to feel less uptight on the course. “Everybody is going to have bad times in their life and I think I have had that already”, added Ariya.

Lee, who started the championship with a course record 62 and led at halfway, put up a fearless fight, the three birdies and then a miraculous par from tree at the 16th making for a dramatic finale.

The world No. 1 shot a two-over last round of 74 to finish on one-under but 15 shots behind victor Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand on the Marquess course at Woburn. “My caddie also talked to me and told me to slow down”. “I hope I can inspire some players in Thailand”.

That said the parents of young golfers seeking to follow in her footsteps will doubtless, in this health and safety conscious era, be encouraged to show rather more duty of care than Jutanugarn’s when she was, in a manner of speaking, introduced to the sport. She became the first player from Thailand to win on the LPGA Tour this year when won three consecutive events.

The Jutanugarns, Moriya (left) and “little sister” Ariya, hope to encourage more Thai girls to take up golf.