Jutanugarn able to finish well, claim Open title

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.» Ariya Jutanugarn lost a seven-shot lead on the back nine and then prevailed on the fourth hole of a playoff to win the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday at Shoal Creek.

Jutanugarn, a 22-year-old from Thailand, made a clutch bunker shot to within a foot of the hole to save par, beating South Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim, who shot a 5-under-par 67 in the final round to force the playoff.

Jutanugarn started the day with a fourshot lead over Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith and looked like she might win easily after opening with a 4 under on the front nine to stretch her lead to seven shots.

But a triple bogey on No. 10 cut the lead to four and seemed to shake her confidence. She still had a two-shot lead with two holes remaining, but closed with back-to-back bogeys to fall into a playoff after shooting 73.

In the end, the excruciating collapse set up an emotional victory and her second major championship. She also won the Women’s British Open in 2016.

The format for the playoff was a twohole aggregate on 14 and 18, but the players were still tied after the two holes. The format then switched to sudden death, alternating between the same holes.

Kim looked like she might win the twohole aggregate after making a long birdie putt on 14 while Jutanugarn settled for par.