Ko, Henderson and Jutanugarn are the three best in the women’s game right now, but Ariya might have the most complete game of all.
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World No 1 Lydia Ko shot a final day 74 and the New Zealander, holder of two of the five majors, had to settle with a rather disappointing one-under par.
Lydia Ko rallied on the back nine Friday at the Ricoh Women’s British Open to keep her nearly flawless record intact.
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn made history on Sunday as she won the Women’s British Open thanks to a final round of 72. South Korea’s Mirim Lee during the second round of the Women’s British Open at Woburn Golf Club, in Woburn, England, Friday July 29, 2016.
Jutanugarn birdied six of the first 14 holes and closed with four pars to reach 16-under 200 and break the tournament 54-hole scoring record.
Her late collapse in the ANA Inspiration almost as recent as her three straight LPGA Tour victories, the 20-year-old Thai player held on to win the Women’s British Open for her first major title.
“I actually didn’t know she shot 62”, she confessed. “I only know what I am doing”. Everybody is going to have bad times in their life and I think I’ve had that already.
South Korean Lee Mi-rim (69), who led after the opening two days, was in second place on 202, three ahead of American Mo Martin (69).
“It’s in my locker”. Learning to manage her emotions became her biggest takeaway from the loss.
“I think I got mad after that hole”, Jutanugarn told reporters of her double bogey. “But I’m pretty sure I learned a lot from that”. After that hole I was a bit nervous but I tried to commit to every shot and not to worry about anything else.
She put the hard lessons to use in May, winning three straight events to become the LPGA Tour’s first Thai champion. 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. “I had missed a few and I just wanted to make myself happy by holing it”.
“I’ve shot 11 under before”, Lee said. Going into today, my goal was to play all four rounds.
She eventually managed to save par but a birdie from the Thai player saw her retake the driving seat heading into the final hole.
Lee’s round included three birdies and two bogeys – a much different trip around the Marquess’ Course than Thursday’s excursion in which she compiled 10 birdies without a single bogey.
I really had fun, Lee said. That was the most important thing.
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Martin, who won the British Open two years ago, shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday.
