Shibuno writes Cinderella story, wins AIG Women's British Open

Known as Smiling Cinderella for her mega-watt grin that captured the hearts of everyone at England’s Woburn Golf Club, the 20-year-old fearlessly nailed an 18-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to win the AIG Women’s British Open by one stroke over American Lizette Salas. Shibuno’s improbable win came in her first competition ever outside of her native country.

“A trophy is a trophy, so I can't really compare to Prince Charming, but this is definitely the most valuable trophy I've ever received,” said an overwhelmed Shibuno.

With the win, Shibuno became the second Japanese player, male or female, to win a major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Should she choose to join the LPGA Tour, she can accept immediate LPGA Membership, making 2019 her rookie season, or defer that Membership to the 2020 season.

Shibuno started the final round two strokes clear of the field, but a double bogey at No. 3 changed the complexion of the round. As many as five players were tied for the lead throughout the final round, with Salas, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Ashleigh Buhai and Jeongeun Lee6 all staking their claims on the title. Lee6 dropped out of contention with a double of her own at No. 12, while Buhai’s 2-under 70 was not enough to keep up with the firepower around her.

The tournament ultimately came down to Shibuno, Salas and Ko. Ko hoped to become just the seventh player in history to win three majors in a single season, but her birdie putt at 18 came up inches short, leaving her in third at -16. Tied with Shibuno at -16, Salas’ 5-foot birdie putt at No. 18 hit the cup and heartbreakingly lipped out.

“I told myself, ‘You got this. You're made for this.’ I put a good stroke on it,” said Salas. “I'm not going to lie – I was nervous. You know, I haven't been in that position in a long time. Gave it a good stroke. I controlled all my thoughts. It just didn't drop.”

Shibuno joked that her only worry on 18 was “if I were to shank this second shot, it would be very embarrassing.” Instead, she easily reached the green in two, and as Salas kept warm on the practice putting green, Shibuno rammed home the winning birdie putt.

“I was looking at the board all the time, and knew my position, where I stood in the tournament,” said Shibuno. “That was also true before the putt on the 18th and I was also thinking about if I were to make this putt, how I was going to celebrate.”

On the strength of a final-round 67, her best final round of 2019, a surging Morgan Pressel finished fourth at -15. Buhai rounded out the top five at -14. Defending champion Georgia Hall shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday to finish tied for 35th.

OH SO CLOSE FOR SALAS

After opening with birdies at three of her first four holes, it looked like Lizette Salas could run away with the AIG Women’s British Open. Instead, it all came down to one putt. Her birdie putt on 18 hit the hole and lipped out to the left, giving her a final-round 65 and opening the door for Hinako Shibuno to earn major glory with a winning birdie of her own.

“I take away a lot of positives. We had a game plan at the beginning of the week and we stuck with it. We fought, every single day, and to play alongside the No. 1 player in the world and to play the way I did, I'm really happy,” said Salas, who has already clinched a berth on the 2019 USA Solheim Cup Team. “Obviously I could have finished a little better, and it stings a little bit. But I've just been working so hard this entire year. I'm so proud of my team.”

PRESSEL POSTS CAREER-BEST AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN RESULT

It’s been 262 LPGA tournaments since Morgan Pressel has visited the winner’s circle, last tasting victory at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, and even longer since her lone major victory at the 2007 ANA Inspiration. Pressel posted four birdies and an eagle to give herself a shot at the title on Sunday at the AIG Women’s British Open. With a lone bogey on the 18th she carded a final-round 67, her lowest final round of the 2019 season, and finished fourth for her best result in a major championship since taking third place at the 2015 ANA Inspiration.

“Just a lot goes back to confidence,” Pressel said Sunday at Woburn Golf Club. “A couple years ago, I didn't know where the ball was going. So it's a little bit easier to play when you can stand over it and have a general idea of where it's going to end up.”

It’s safe to say Pressel’s result this week caught the eye of Team USA Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster. Pressel is a veteran of five USA squads, but missed the team in 2017 for the first time since she turned professional. With just two tournaments left before Team USA is finalized after the CP Women’s Open, it’s crunch time for players to make their case.

When asked about the likelihood of receiving one of Inkster’s two captain’s picks, Pressel joked, “The only time it's on my mind is I wonder how long it's going to take somebody to ask me about it.

“I was out here trying to win major championships. Solheim Cup, it is what it is. I haven't played particularly well over the last two years, but…whatever happens, happens.”

JIN YOUNG KO WINS 2019 ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD

Jin Young Ko, of the Republic of Korea, has won the 2019 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award (RAMA), which recognizes the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships during the current LPGA Tour season.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Ko received the honor thanks to her wins at the ANA Inspiration and The Evian Championship - her first two career major championship victories - and an impressive third-place finish at the AIG Women’s British Open on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Ko joins Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2017) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2018) as winners of the prestigious award, which will be presented to Ko at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., in November.

"I'm happy, just honored and very happy to win this award," said Ko, who follows in the footsteps of her compatriots Park and Ryu as a RAMA winner. "I will keep that (RAMA) trophy in my room! Annika is just a legend. When I grew up playing golf, I watched always Annika and Se Ri (Pak). This is amazing! Now I'm looking forward to next year at the majors. Who knows if I can win three or four majors in one year? Nobody knows, so I will try."

CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE

The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

No holes-in-one were made this week at the AIG Women’s British Open There have been 18 made prior to the week and a total of $360,000 has been donated thus far in 2019.

LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION

The LEADERS Top 10 competition awards a $100,000 bonus to the LPGA player with the most top-10 finishes through the completion of the event held immediately prior to the CME Group Tour Championship. In the event of a tie in total top-10 finishes, the award will go to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.

Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda both finished in the top 10 at the AIG Women’s British Open and moved into a tie for first with nine top-10s along with Hyo Joo Kim. Danielle Kang and Brooke Henderson follow, both with eight top-10 finishes.