MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND-Ariya Jutanugarn was flirting with another Sunday meltdown in an LPGA major, her six-stroke lead down to one after a double bogey on the par-four 13th at tree-lined Woburn.
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“It was hard today, I felt a little bit nervous at times”, she said after picking up the first prize of 310,838 pounds ($411,238). And after I make double, my fairway iron so good.
She matched the tournament record Thursday with an opening 62.
Ko was never in the running after her lacklustre first two rounds and closed with a two over 73 today. She extended her lead to as may as five-strokes over the course of the round ahead of Lee and Mo Martin but began to struggle at the turn. The American won the 2014 tournament at Royal Birkdale.
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn in action during day three of the Women’s British Open at Woburn Golf Club in Woburn, England, Saturday, July 30, 2016. Kung shot a third-round 70, while Lu had a 71.
“I don’t look at leaderboards until we finish on Sunday”, Feng told reporters.
Despite three birdies in her opening four holes, Matthew was unable to match the quality of her second-round 65 as she slipped off the pace.
The 41-year-old has been in vintage form all week at a venue where she says she is comfortable.
The top-ranked Ko tied for 40th at 1 under after a 74. Now I just have to stay positive.
Another former American champion, Stacy Lewis, finished in fourth position, with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew the leading Briton in a tie for fifth with South Korea’s Ha-Na Jang and Australian Karrie Webb. “I kind of holed a few putts that I wasn’t holing and I got up-and-down”, Hull said.
While she had clearly recovered her technique by that point, that seems to have been a crucial moment in terms of transforming her outlook, invoking a determination to enjoy herself on course that even includes the unlikely measure of introducing a smile to her pre-shot routine.
The only downside for the world No. 27, who burst on to the worldwide stage as a 17-year-old with a brilliant performance in Europe’s 2013 Solheim Cup win over the USA, came when her group was put on the clock for slow play.
A first prize of £310,838 edges her closer to Ko at the top of the LPGA’s Race to CME Globe money list, while her maiden major victory is projected to move her to third place on the Rolex Ranking behind only Ko and Canada’s Brooke Henderson.
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“I think it’s no pressure for me because only thing I want to is have fun”, Jutanugarn said.
