Georgia Hall on Sunday became the fourth Englishwoman major champion when she carded a closing five-under-par 67 to clinch victory at the Women’s British Open in Lancashire, England.
She stamped her authority with three birdies in a four-hole stretch to beat Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum by two strokes at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Cheered on by a large gallery, Hall finished at 17-under 271, becoming the second English player to win the championship after Karen Stupples in 2004.
Photo: AFP
“I told myself just to stay calm the whole way and not think about anything. I thought I’d cry,” the 22-year-old Hall said.
Hall joined Laura Davies (four), Alison Nicholas and Stupples as women’s major winners from England.
She became the first English player of either sex to win a major at Royal Lytham since Tony Jacklin won the 1969 British Open.
The final round quickly turned into a head-to-head duel between Hall and overnight lead Phatlum, after South Korean Ryu So-yeon triple-bogeyed the third hole.
Hall tied for the lead with a 10-foot birdie at the 13th hole, before she and Phatlum both birdied the par-five 15th to remain locked together.
Hall added another birdie at the par-four 16th to take sole possession of the lead, before going three shots ahead when Phatlum double-bogeyed the 17th after driving into a fairway bunker.
The large lead allowed Hall to enjoy the rousing reception that she received on her victory march up to the final hole, where a three-putt bogey was academic.
Phatlum hit a series of loose drives down the stretch, but a 70 earned her second place on 15 under, with Ryu (70) another two shots back in third.
BRIDGESTONE
Reuters, AKRON, Ohio
A week before defending his PGA Championship title, Justin Thomas on Sunday demonstrated that his game is in excellent shape as he blew away the field for a four-stroke victory at the World Golf Championships (WGC) Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Thomas started the final round with a three-shot cushion and was never seriously challenged. His one-under-par 69 more than enough to clinch his ninth PGA Tour title — his first in a WGC event.
He finished at 15-under 265 at Firestone, while fellow American Kyle Stanley carded 68 for second place on 11 under.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson shot 64 and for third on 10-under par.
Thomas, 25, held steady on a day when the players who started closest to the lead all fell apart.
The championship moves to Memphis next year, ending a long run at Firestone.
“I’m glad I finally played well around here, just in time for it to leave,” Thomas said.
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