A double-bogey at the 13th threatened Jutanugarn’s chances as her rival closed to within one shot. Jutanugarn made a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th to take a two-stroke advantage to the final hole.
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American Martin, who parred the last 10 holes, also closed to within two shots of the lead, but Jutanugarn responded with a birdie at the 17th to move two shots clear with one to play and made par at the last to secure the title, while Lee dropped a shot to finish tied for second. “I know what I have to focus and the only thing I have to is like focus on what is under my control”.
“My mother cried at the end”.
“It’s a big day for me and also for golf in Thailand”, she added.
Asked about her unusual pre-shot routine of smiling, she said: “I really want to try to feel relaxed and I feel like whatever is going to make me happy is to smile”.
“I hope I can inspire some players in Thailand”.
Playing just a few minutes ahead of Jutanugarn, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew faded away from the leading pack on the final day.
Letting go of the pressure and focusing on having fun, Jutanugarn broke through in May at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic for her first win on Tour.
“For me it was hard today”, Jutanugarn said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, what’s wrong with me.’ But after that, I’m really like be patient and I can come back really good”.
England’s Charley Hull responded well to Saturday’s round of 75, and was seven under for the day after 12 holes, before dropping four shots to finish on five under par for the tournament, 11 strokes adrift of the victor.
The free-swinging Ariya, who holds nothing back with the longest clubs in her bag, belts the ball prodigious distances and did not use her driver all week at the relatively short 6,448-yard Marquess Course at Woburn.
Jutanugarn’s best finish at the RICOH Women’s British Open was a T45 in 2014 and she missed the cut in 2015.
Charley Hull, a member at Woburn, gave the locals brief hope that she might mount a charge with five birdies in the first six holes but the Briton fizzled out over the closing stages and had to be content with a 69 for 283.
Patience has definitely paid off for the young golfer who is now looking forward to representing her country at the Rio games later this month.
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“I don’t remember the last time I had four under-par rounds”, she said. “I am really excited for Rio and to play really well”.
