Inbee Park said “the golfing God was on my side” after winning the seventh major title of her career at the Women’s British Open.
The world No. 1 shot a joint course record seven-under-par 65 final round to finish the tournament on 12 under, giving her a three-shot victory over fellow South Korean Ko Jin-young at the Donald Trump-owned Turnberry golf course .
“It is the greatest day of my life yet for sure,” Park told the LPGA website after landing the $450,000 first prize. “It was a great day of golf. I played great golf out there.
“It feels great, this is something I have been dreaming of all my life.
“Even though I made a couple of early mistakes, I was able to hold on really well on the back nine. Obviously got a little bit lucky. The golfing God was on my side, for sure.”
The 27-year-old Park carded seven birdies and an eagle in her final round to surge past overnight leaders Jin-young and Taiwan’s Teresa Lu.
It was a South Korean one-two-three after Ryo So-yeon’s four-under round of 68 put her in joint third along with 18-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko – the world No. 2 equaled her best performance at a major.
Park has won six out of the last 14 majors and her win in Scotland made her the second youngest golfer to complete a career grand slam – behind only Tiger Woods.
She now sits just three majors short of Annika Sorenstam’s modern-day record of 10 and eight behind Patty Berg’s all-time record of 15, won between 1937-58.
Park has clinched the Rolex Annika Major Award ahead of the the fifth and final of the series – next month’s Evian Championship in France.
“I just missed out on that award last year,” said Park. “I was really close and I couldn’t wrap it up. Annika is a legendary player. She’s my idol. It feels a great honor to put my name on that award.”