Inbee Park wins Women’s British Open, captures 4th different major

Three strong rounds had seen the South Korean poised to pounce on any errors from the leaders, compatriot Jin Young Ko and Chinese Taipei’s Teresa Lu, three photographs away from Park on eight-under par, however who had no earlier expertise of main a major.

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko smiles for the crowd during her final round at the Women’s British Open at Turnberry.

Park won by three shots on 12-under 276 for a seventh major title, becoming just the seventh female player to win four different majors – after Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam.

British pair Melissa Reid and Amy Boulden both posted top-ten finishes in their home major, as Ladies European Tour star Charley Hull recovered from a bogey start her round to birdie five of her next six holes and card a three-under 69. She can put an end to the lingering debate by taking the Evian title in France next month.

LPGA Tour officials are calling Park’s achievement precisely that.

For players who have won four different majors available in their careers, the LPGA acknowledges them as having completed a career Grand Slam, although Park hasn’t won the Evian Championship since it was given the status of a fifth major in 2013. She did win the French event in 2012. The other is the “Super Career Grand Slam“, which includes the Evian.

Park, 27, said completing the slam was “a dream come true” and “the greatest feat I’ve accomplished as a pro”.

“Every major is special but this one is much more special”. I set only one goal this year, one and only, and that’s winning the British Open. Park struck strong on Sunday during a round when many golfers were struggling.

At that point Inbee Park was in second place on the board and trailing Jin Young Ko by 3 shots with 9 holes remaining to be played.

The 29-year-old Merritt, ranked 180th, clinched victory with a laser shot off the tee at the par-3 16th for a 3-foot birdie, then rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt on the 18th hold to cap a 4-under 67 for an 18-under-par 266 total.

Her composure was stunning, considering the uncharted territory she was in. The 20-year-old Ko had bounded around the front nine, laughing with her caddie, pulling her puffa jacket on and off, apparently oblivious to the pressure. Park holed a 4-footer for a birdie at No. 16 to take the lead for the first time. Ko’s title chance finally collapsed when she dumped her second shot into the burn guarding the green at the 16th. “It was a great experience for me to play with Lexi Thompson yesterday and So Yeon today”. “I said to myself: I can’t really push to achieve the career Grand Slam”.

“I had thought it would be [only] to play through to the Olympics [in Rio next year] but now I have lots of new goals”.