Golf

South Korea’s Inbee Park wins Women’s British Open

‘Obviously I got a bit lucky today. The golfing God was on my side for sure’

Inbee Park of South Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the Final Round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry Golf Club. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images
Inbee Park of South Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the Final Round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry Golf Club. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images
Mon Aug 03 2015 - 00:14

South Korea’s Inbee Park hailed the greatest day of her life after claiming a seventh major title with a brilliant final round in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry.

Park began the day three shots off the lead but carded an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys for a closing 65 to finish 12 under par, three shots ahead of compatriot Jin-Young Ko.

Joint overnight leader Ko, who was looking to win on her first major start, enjoyed a four-shot lead after following an eagle on the seventh with birdies on the eighth and 10th.

However, as Park charged through the field with four birdies in a row from the seventh and an eagle on the 14th, Ko three-putted the 13th and ran up a double bogey on the 16th.

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“It’s the greatest day of my life yet for sure,” said 27-year-old Park, who has now won six of the 14 majors she has contested since 2013. “It was a great day of golf today. I played great golf out there.

“Even though I made a couple of early mistakes, I was able to hold on really well on the back nine. Obviously I got a bit lucky today. The golfing God was on my side for sure.”

The British Open was the only one of the ‘traditional’ major championships that Park had yet to win, although the Evian Championship only became the fifth major in 2013, a year after Park won what was then called the Evian Masters.

Women On Ko’s performance in her first major championship, Park said: “She is a very talented girl and she was holding up well out there. All four days she played fantastic.

“I know her well and she is from the same management company as me, so I had dinner with her earlier in the week. I got lucky. She could have played better golf but the golfing gods were on my side.”

Another South Korean, So Yeon Ryu (68), and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (69) tied for third on eight under par.

Second-round leader Suzann Pettersen from Norway (72) finished in fifth place on seven under par, with Teresa Lu (74) from Chinese Taipei a stroke further behind in sixth and Sweden’s Anna Norqvist (69) tied for seventh with Mika Miyazato (73) of Japan.

Amy Boulden (71) from Wales and Melissa Reid (72) from England shared ninth place with Australian Minjee Lee (73) on four under par and Maria McBride (72) – a European vice-captain for the 2015 Solheim Cup – ended 12th.