Buhai bags SA's first Women's major

South Africa™s Ashleigh Buhai captures her first ever major title, the 2022 AIG Women™s Open, at Muirfield.

She recovered from throwing away a five-shot lead to beat South Korea's Chun In-gee in a dramatic play-off at the AIG Women's Open to seal her first major win.

Buhai parred the fourth play-off hole after Chun bogeyed to seal victory at 21:10 BST in Muirfield.

The 33-year-old's commanding lead at the start of the day evaporated as she triple-bogeyed the par four 15th. That saw her drop back alongside three-time major winner Chun at 10 under.

Buhai is the first South African to win the tournament since 1979 and pockets R18 million

She explains what it means to win in Scotland: œI™m very pleased to be able to, I think, shoot that score in those conditions. You have to be able to pat yourself on the back so much, so that I thought I was six and not seven, so I was eight-under playing the loss. If I have to look back, it is probably one of the best rounds of golf ever played."

"I was feeling pretty calm. You know, I've done good work on my swing with my coach for so long now, and I feel my lines are where they need to be. And I just need to keep my tempo. If I keep my tempo, then most of the time it tends to fall said Buhai.

She was also delighted to emulate compatriot and childhood hero, Ernie Els, who won the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield.

œThe club means to forward, it means to fall. So yeah, I feel I had a really good warm up. I hit a few extra chips today because I didn't feel I chip too well yesterday when I did have to and at least I tried on 17. And that feels."

"Maybe something about Scotland, to be honest, I just love it. I've said this is my favorite tournament of the year. I love links golf. I love how you have to be creative. You don't have to strop it. You just have to know what shot you want to hit and commit to that one. And, I do love the town. I was pretty fun when I couldn't get an Airbnb in North Berwick or Gullane like the previous years. But it's pretty difficult trying to find accommodation this year" she concluded.