Inbee Park clinches career Grand Slam
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Korea’s Inbee Park has become just the seventh woman golfer to achieve the traditional career Grand Slam.
The World No. 1 carded a superb seven under par 65 to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open at the Trump Turnberry Resort and in the process join the elite group comprising Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb and Mickey Wright who have previously achieved that feat.
The 27 year-old from Seoul has also won the Evian Masters, the current fifth Major, albeit before it was accorded that status a couple of years ago.
Park started the final round in a share of fifth place three shots behind leaders, Jin Young Ko and Teresa Lu, but claimed the lead for the first time with an eagle on the 449-yard par-5 14th hole and then sealed the seventh Major victory of her career with a birdie on the 372-yard par-4 16th and pars on the last two holes.
The Korean’s 65 gave her a 72-hole aggregate of 12-under par 276 and a two shot victory over co-third rounder leader, Jin Young Ko, while Lu dropped back to sixth place on 282 after carding a 74.
Ko belied the fact she was playing in her first Major by carding a one under par 71 to finish second on 279 while her namesake, Lydia, the World No. 2, returned a 69 to share third place with Korea’s So Yeon Rhu on eight under par 280.
Anna Nordqvist closed with a three under par 69 to be the leading European in the field in a share of seventh place while Britain’s Amy Boulden and Mel Reid were tied in ninth.
“It feels great to hold this trophy finally,” said the new champion after winning on what was her eighth appearance in the Championship. “I have given it a few cracks but it has just been so hard.
“This is the one trophy I really wanted to win because it means so much, has so much history. It’s definitely the golfers’ most wanted trophy. I set one goal this year and that was to win the British Open and, being the only goal I’ve set, it feels great.”
