American Lilia Vu wins her first Major, Boutier 14th

In this first major women’s golf tournament of the year, Vu and Yin completed all 72 holes with a score of 278 (-10) on the Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Carlton Woods, in the suburbs of Houston (Texas), the new home of the tournament which took place for 51 years in Rancho Mirage, California. Playing in cool and windy conditions, Vu, who started the 4th round in 11th place, came back four strokes behind leader Yin, thanks to a card of 68.

Vu finished with two consecutive birdies to put pressure on Yin, who snatched the play-offs on the 18th hole also with a birdie, after chaining two bogeys at N.16 and 17. On the 1st play-off hole, Yin sent his ball into the water, while Vu birdied a putt from over 4 meters, winning his second LPGA title, after the Honda LPGA Thailand in February. “I can’t even put into words how I feltVu said. “I was nervous. I was scared. I was cold. I just wanted to hit the putt and be done».

Moments after landing the winning putt, the 25-year-old American, world No.12, bowed to a tournament tradition that originated in California, that of diving into the lake, the very one where Yin’s bullet had sunk earlier. “The last two days have been tough, really not easysaid Vu, who was in just his ninth major tournament appearance. “I have been my own enemy. I don’t know how I got out of it. I’m just really happy and proud».

Vu had considered quitting golf years ago, but she said after her win that “everything happens for a reason» and that, despite all the difficulties she has encountered, «I see myself as my biggest obstacle“. The only French woman who made the cut on Saturday morning took 14th place at -4, six lengths behind Lilia Vu.