Women's British Open: Mo Martin wins by one at Birkdale after dramatic closing eagle
Sunday 13 July 2014 19:13, UK
America’s Mo Martin won the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale by a single stroke after making an eagle at her final hole.
Martin’s brilliant finish allowed her to post a one-under-par total of 287 that would prove just good enough as China's Feng Shanshan and Norway's Suzann Pettersen ended one shot adrift.
Both Feng and overnight leader Inbee Park needed a birdie down the 18th to force a playoff, but neither could manage it to leave the American celebrating her maiden major success.
Feng (75) carded a par to finish alongside Petttersen (75), while Korea’s Park could do no better than bogey and had to settle for fourth place after a closing 77.
Martin had led the tournament at the halfway stage after posting successive rounds of 69, but shot a 77 of her own on Saturday to trail Park by three heading into the final round.
However, she was one of only two players to shoot level-par on Sunday – Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist the other – and her heroics at the last would prove decisive.
Incredible eagle
Martin's approach to the par-five 18th ran into the flag and finished six feet from the hole and, having knocked in the subsequent putt, she then had to wait an hour to see if any of the later starters could match her total before being confirmed as champion.
"The second shot is one I'm going to remember. I actually heard it hit the flag and said 'Oh my God"' explained Martin, who had recorded just one top-10 finish in 63 previous LPGA starts.
"This was a full three wood. I was off a little bit of a left-to-right lie, which let it feed. At this point, I'm saying 'sit.' And then I said 'go.' And then I said 'I don't know what else to say.1
"It was a tough day of golf today. It was very windy and this course is very challenging. So I stayed patient and I fortunately played some really good golf today.
"From the first time I saw Royal Birkdale, I fell in love with it. I think the layout is absolutely phenomenal."
English teenager Charley Hull was joint 12th after a disappointing 78, while a closing 73 meant Dame Laura Davies, 50, was the best-placed home player in a share of ninth.
