Jutanugarn held the 54-hole lead in each of her three victories, experiences that served her well on Sunday at Woburn where she maintained her lead despite mistakes down the closing stretch.
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WOBURN, England, July 31 A lot can happen in 12 months of top-level sport – just ask Ricoh Women’s British Open golf champion Ariya Jutanugarn.
Three weeks ago at the U.S. Women’s Open, Lee opened with a 64, then followed with rounds of 74, 76 and 73 to tie for 11th.
As Ariya Jutanugarn survived a late scare to win Thailand’s first major championship, Webb turned in her best result of the northern summer with a fighting tie for fifth at Woburn Golf Club in England. “I know what I have to focus and the only thing I have to is like focus on what is under my control”. But deep down I know that I still have the game to compete and I have chances to win major.
The 20-year-old Jutanugarn closed with an even-par 72 for a three-stroke victory over American Mo Martin and South Korea’s Mirim Lee. She chipped in from 90 feet for birdie on No. 8 and made a 30-footer on 10 on the Marquess Course, the hilly, forest layout that is a big change from the usual seaside links.
The long-hitter left driver out of the bag and hammered 3-wood and 2-iron off the tee.
“It’s in my locker”.
“It’s in my locker”, she said. Jutanugarn became the first major victor from Thailand. “I never usually get nervous, so it was quite weird”. “Normally, my ball-striking is not bad, so I know I’m going to hit a lot of fairways and greens”. After that hole I was a bit nervous but I tried to commit to every shot and not to worry about anything else. Both have four wins, including a major, and the Evian Championship next month, the final major, might go a long way in determining the victor.
Ko – like four-time major victor Rory McIlroy and reigning U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, both of whom face early exits across the Atlantic in New Jersey – has to hope those with later tee times put up some big numbers.
“I think it’s really important for me – and for Thai golf”, she said. “Like my goal, I really want to win a major and I did”. I did, so Im very proud of myself..
Lee, who opened the championship with a record-equalling 62, made an unimpressive start with three bogeys over her first nine but hit back with three straight birdies from the 10th, narrowing the gap to three strokes.
“I think I got mad after that hole”, she said with a laugh after the round. “Two good putts on 15, 16, I think that definitely helped”.
Jutanugarn played alongside Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who made birdie at three of the first four holes.
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“I really like the course”, Feng said.
