Jiyai Shin Overcomes Brutal British Weather To Win The Women’s Open Championship

South Korean Shin Jiyai claimed her second Women’s British Open, and second major, courtesy of a nine shot victory at Hoylake.

The 24-year-old started the day with a five-shot lead and it never looked like she wouldn’t close out her 36th professional win.

Unfortunately though, Jiyai’s victory was overshadowed, quite literally at times, by the brutal British weather that led to a marathon 36-hole final day. The conditions were so bad on Friday that the opening 18 players had their scores voided.

Scores during the gale were a cumulative 52-over-par before the suspension. Michelle Wie described seeing fellow American Cristie Kerr knocked off her feet by the wind and said the same almost happened to her on the exposed 12th tee. Kerr had trouble getting her ball to stay on the tee there and, on reaching the green, playing partner Erina Hara had a two-foot putt blown eight feet past the hole.

The resulting backlog led to a very long final day and that, combined with more showers and an un-exciting leaderboard, meant the final group had to play up a very subdued 18th.

Australian Karrie Webb did managed to cut Jiyai’s lead to one after the 10th hole of the third round, but Jiyai responded by birdieing the next three to restore her advantage to three shots by the end of the 54th hole.

The former world number one then started her final round with a triple bogey seven, but Webb dropped four shots in the first three holes to effectively end her challenge.

The 24-year-old’s victory completed an Asian Slam in the lady’s majors. “It was a long, long, very tough day and I just focused on each single shot,” said Jiyai. “Before I thought my skill was not good for links, but finally I have great tempo in my swing and I think this course was made for me. I had great confidence and I have great memories of this tournament.”

Inbee Park birdied the par-5 18th to take second, one shot ahead of America’s Paula Creamer, with Japan’s Mika Miyazato a shot further back.

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew finished T10 on seven-over, while world number one Yani Tseng, aiming for a third successive British Open, finished on 11-over.

Fifteen-year-old Lydia Ko, born in Korea but now representing New Zealand, was leading amateur at nine-over, two better than England’s Holly Clyburn, a 21-year-old from Lincolnshire.

Final selected leaderboard:

-9: J Shin (Kor) 
Level: I Park (Kor)
+1: P Creamer (US)
+2: M Miyazatyo (Jpn)
+3: K Webb (Aus)
+7: C Matthew (Sco)
+8: C Kerr (US), M Wie (US)