Ariya Jutanugarn took the Women’s British Open lead Saturday at tree-l.
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This time – unlike at the ANA Inspiration – the 20-year-old Thai sensation held on, winning the Women’s British Open for her first major title.
Her difficulties allowed Lee to close the gap before the South Korean, who was also chasing her maiden major crown, encountered trouble at the 17.
“My dad taught me and actually my mom played too”, she said, chirpily, of her first golfing memories.
Jutanugarn had four birdies and one bogey while shooting a 69.
I think everything in the past is good for me, because I learned a lot from that, Jutanugarn said.
South Korea’s Lee was spectacular in the first round, carding a course-record 10-under 62. 7-11 to reach 8 under.
“I think this is very important for me and for Thai golf”.
Now she’s in a battle with Ko for Player of the Year.
“I think I got mad after that”, she said of her unlucky 13th.
“I had issues with my tee shots”, Lee told reporters after the round. “I just want to have fun”. She won at St. Andrews in 2013. She’s winless in 57 starts since June 2014. “It’s been nice to play solidly. Didn’t make any bogeys”, Lewis said. She fired a 65 in the first round.
Jutanugarn, the long-hitter who left her driver out of the bag Its in my locker.
“Once I showed up, I said ‘I’m here!'” Feng said. “I’m just going to focus on my game, one shot at a time, and, hopefully, a few more putts drop”. “I never usually get nervous, so it was quite weird”.
U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Hannah O’Sullivan had a 70.
Lydia Ko sits in a tie for 27th at three-under, 13 strokes off the lead, heading into the final round of the Women’s British Open. “When that’s the case, you’re not going to shoot a low score”.
A year ago, the 20-year-old missed the cut at Turnberry, the 10th successive tournament in which she had failed to qualify for the final two rounds.
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was the top Canadian, tied for 31st after a final-round 71.
Jutanugarn has had a great run in this season’s three majors to date. I gave myself a lot of chances and holed my fair share of them. Olympic-bound Gerina Piller’s only two victories have been team events – the Solheim Cup in 2015 and the UL International Crown last week.
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The tournament is the fourth of the LPGA Tour’s five major championships. Her highest finish was tied fourth at last month’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championships in Sammamish, Washington.
