Ashleigh Buhai becomes first woman to win a major at Muirfield, claiming AIG Women’s British Open after four playoff holes

During a practice round at Muirfield, Ashleigh Buhai pulled up a YouTube video of Ernie Els’ magnificent bunker shot on the par-3 13th from his victory 20 years ago for inspiration. One day, a young South African will do the same to Buhai after she pulled off a sensational bunker save of her own on the fourth playoff hole to win the 2022 AIG Women’s British Open over three-time major winner In Gee Chun.

If an LPGA victory felt like a long time coming for Buhai – 221 starts over the span of a dozen years – consider that women have waited centuries for this opportunity.

In 2019, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers invited its first female members in the club’s 275-year history. That only came after the R&A took the iconic course off the men’s British Open rota after a 2016 membership vote to bring women in failed to reach the two-thirds required. A re-vote in 2017 pushed it through.

AIG Women’s British Open: Money list | Leaderboard | Photos

Buhai became the third South African to win a British Open at Muirfield, joining her heroes Els and Gary Player, who won in 1959. While this marked the first women’s professional event ever held at Muirfield, the men have staged 16 British Opens at the historic club, dating back to 1892.

Buhai joins a storied list of Muirfield champions that includes Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon and Phil Mickelson.

“For me to be a female South African and a major winner,” said Buhai. “I’ve got no words, it’s life-changing.”

Buhai took a commanding five-shot lead into the final round after carding 30 and 31 on the front nine in the second and third rounds, respectively.

After Buhai rifled a 3-wood into the green on the par-4 first hole Sunday and converted a 6-footer for par, she looked in control on a blustery day in East Lothian.

It all seemed to unravel in a flash, however, late on the back nine.

Standing on the 15th tee, Buhai held a three-shot lead when her worst drive of the week found a poor lie in a fairway bunker. A rushed second shot out sideways went long into the fescue and it was a tangled mess from there, with a late triple-bogey bringing a host of players back in the fray.

“You know, it was very easy to panic and probably come home in an ambulance,” said Buhai, who told herself internally to get back in it.

Buhai ultimately closed with a 75, while Chun shot 70 to leave the pair knotted at 10 under for the tournament, one better than 2019 AIG champion Hinako Shibuno. It marked the first playoff at the British Open in three decades.

The pair traded sudden-death blows down the 18th four times, with the Muirfield clubhouse providing a dramatic backdrop. The closing hole played the hardest on the course for three straight days, and after Chun found a fairway bunker the fourth time down, Buhai faced a daunting greenside bunker shot as daylight dwindled.

“Show them why you’re No. 1 in bunkers this year,” encouraged her caddie, Tanya Paterson.

Buhai hit a beauty, and after Chun knocked in a bogey putt, the stage was set for the 33-year-old former South African prodigy to etch her name into history.

“I think I did what I can do,” said Chun, who was vying to become the eighth player in LPGA history to win four different majors. She’ll have to wait until 2023 for her next attempt.

Leona Maguire, the first Irishwoman to win on the LPGA, carded the day’s lowest round, a bogey-free 66, to vault into a share of fourth.

Rose Zhang, the No. 1 amateur in the world, claimed the Smyth Salver as the only amateur to play the weekend at Muirfield. The Stanford star finished 1 over for the tournament in a share of 28th place.

Buhai, née Simon, began playing golf at age 6 and has been the face of women’s golf in South Africa since she was a teenager. The one-time prodigy won the 2004 South African Open at age 14 and led her country to the World Amateur Team Championship title on home soil in 2006, before turning professional the following year.

Buhai met her husband, David, at a golf academy in Johannesburg and the couple began dating long distance 15 years ago. After Buhai’s caddie suffered a broke leg, David took a leave from the shoe store and never went back, working for Ashleigh right up until they got married, when he picked up another bag.

Why the sudden change?

“Some people say it might be good to stay married,” Ashleigh once joked.

David, who now caddies for Jeongeun Lee6, was on the 18th sweating every shot during the playoff and raced onto the green when his wife sealed the championship with the up-and-down of her life.

“In this championship in 2019 at Woburn,” said Ashleigh, “he missed the cut and he was carrying a backpack around full of beers to keep himself calm.

“It’s always harder for those watching.”

Coming into this week, Buhai had only one top-five finish in 42 majors starts and that came three years ago at the AIG, when she was paired with eventual winner Shibuno in the final round. Four of the last five British Open champions, including Shibuno, have made this event their first LPGA title.

Buhai became the second South African woman to win a major, joining Sally Little (1980 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, 1988 du Maurier Classic). Seven South African men have won majors.

Back in February, Buhai began working with sports psychologist Duncan McCarthy, and their time together has been game-changing for the LPGA veteran. Buhai said she’s been swinging good for some time but couldn’t keep herself in the moment.

That certainly wasn’t the case this week.

“I’m just so proud of how I’ve stuck it out,” said Buhai of the expectations she has carried for decades.

“I have said the last four or five years, I’ve finally started to find my feet on the LPGA and felt I could compete, and although I’m 33 now, I feel I’m playing the best golf of my career.

“It’s been a long journey, but man, it’s all worth it right now.”