The last Major of the season could not disappoint and it has not. What an end to the AIG Women’s Open we have experienced. In Saint Andrews and with the best players in the world competing to join their name to the cradle of golf, the show has been unbeatable. Lydia Ko (-7) wins for the first time in her career at the Open and lifts another Major more than eight years later.
At 27 years old, the New Zealand player, Olympic gold just two weeks ago and a member of the Hall of Fame since then, has become even Greater at the Old Course by winning her third Major. An unforgettable summer. How Ko cried as soon as she was crowned champion of the tournament. The emotion of a longing that had resisted her for a long time.
The golf day could not have been more Scottish. Clouds, rain, wind and moments of high wind. The gods of golf wanted the end to be decided under a real gale. That’s the Open. However, ironically, the sky cleared for the first time in hours on Lydia’s birdie putt on hole 18. Not even the sun wanted to miss the show. By the way, although she couldn’t finish it with a birdie, the wood she gave on the second shot on hole 17 with the rain pouring and the wind blowing hard, was to record it and put it in golf schools. Beautiful.
The New Zealander has delivered a great final card of 69 rounds to win the tournament coming from behind. However, with four holes to go, as many players were tied at the top: Nelly Korda, Jiyai Shin, Lydia Ko and Lilia Vu. Four world number ones. Four major champions.
Jiyai Shin (-5), was the first to discard after a three-putt on hole 15. She came close to winning a Major again twelve years later, but Saint Andrews resisted her. Her record with this tournament is impressive. Eleven editions, eleven cuts and with today’s, five top tens. Hats off.
The second to fall in the pools was Nelly Korda who with a bad start on hole 17 weighed down her final options and with a bogey she said goodbye to her third Major. The World Number One deserves a separate chapter. Minutes before she won with authority by two strokes, but a double bogey on 14 put the rest back in the equation. From there downhill and without brakes. She didn’t seem able to.
The one who has held on like a jabata until the last second has been Lilia Vu (-6). She wanted to defend her title from the previous year and she fought tooth and nail. She needed a birdie on the last hole and came very close to getting it. She hit a real bomb from the tee, but a very complicated second shot left her a four-meter birdie option. She didn’t convert it, she fell short and even ended up with a bogey and had to settle for a second place tied with Shin, Korda and the Chinese Rouining Yin (-5). Final round of par from Lilia that was not enough to win her third Major.
Among the big names of the week stands out Lottie Woad (-1), the best amateur player in the world and champion of the ANWA, not only has she won the medal for the best amateur in the tournament but she has been the best Englishwoman of the week. Keep a close eye on the 20-year-old player. Total player project.
Linn Grant (-1) finished in the top ten and was the best positioned player on the European team. Lexi Thompson (+7), in the year of her retirement, has said goodbye to the Majors with a round of 76 strokes.
