No denying Jutanugarn world No 1 spot this time after Canadian victory
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn is the new women’s world No 1 – and this time it’s official.
The 21-year-old thought she’d risen to the top of the standings last Monday only for a glitch in the system to leave her at No 2. She wasted no time making up for that disappointment, though, by winning the Manulife LPGA Classic in Canada on Sunday.
Jutanugarn claimed her sixth success on the circuit after beating American Lexi Thompson and Korean In Gee Chun in a play-off.
“I just can’t believe I won the tournament,” said Jutanugarn, who triumphed with a birdie at the first extra hole after earlier closing with a 69 for a 17-under-par 271 total.
Thompson held a four-shot lead heading into the back nine before making four bogeys coming home, including a three-putt at the last.
Catriona Matthew closed with a 77 – her worst score of the week – to finish in joint 62nd on two-over.
On the amateur front, newly-crowned national champion Connie Jaffrey spearheads the Scottish contingent in this week’s Ladies British Open at Pyle & Kenfig.
It is the event’s first staging under the R&A banner after the merger with the Ladies Golf Union, but one thing that remains the same is the quality of the field. It is headed on this occasion by world No 1 Leona Maguire, the Irish player who put a move to the professional ranks on hold this season.
Also in the line-up is Olivia Mehaffey, another talented Irish player who recently led Arizona State University to a win over Northwestern in the final of the NCAA Division One championship.