South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai won the AIG Women’s Open after beating Korea’s in Gee Chun in a thrilling play-off played in semi-darkness at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland.
After both players finished on 10-under-par after 72 holes, it took four holes to separate the duo. It was a par on the fourth playoff hole, after a magnificent bunker shot with came to rest jut a foot from the cup, that saw Buhai secure her first major title of his career.
“There is a lot of hard work, and many years of dedication that went into this,” she said. “I know there is a lot of people in South Africa with lots of grey hairs right now – especially after that 15th hole! I’m very proud of myself and how I dug deep and kept myself in it to get into the playoff.”
The 33-year-old held a five-shot lead overnight after rounds of 70, 65 and 64 on the first three days at Muirfield. But it wasn’t the easiest final day for Buhai, who dropped a shot on the second, before making a birdie on the fifth, and dropping another shot on the ninth. The South African maintained her lead until the par-4 15th when she made a triple bogey after finding trouble off the tee, which brought her back level with Chun. But she kept her cool on the last to ensure she was in the playoff after signing for a final round 75.
“I was surprisingly calm,” she explained. “On the last, my caddie said to me ‘show them why you are number one in bunkers this year’, she gave me the confidence and maybe it’s also something to do with Muirfield and South Africans and bunker shots.”
Buhai follows in the steps of fellow South Africans Gary Player and Ernie Els, who won The Open Championship at Muirfield in 1959 and 2002, respectively. After coming close in the 2019 edition of the AIG Women’s Open, it meant a lot for the South African superstar to finally get over the line.
She added: “It is so difficult to put into words now what it means, but I’m very proud. For me to a be female South African Major winner, it is life-changing. I have always said the AIG Women’s Open is my favourite event of the year, so to be called a champion is a true honour.”
“I love this course. It played like should, it was firm and fast, and the wind did what it was supposed to do to be a true test.”
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion, finished third on nine-under-par with Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Australia’s Minjee Lee and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom in a tie for fourth two shot further back..
The Smyth Salver for low amateur was awarded to American Rose Zhang, the number one amateur in the world, after she finished in a tie for 28th.