Unassuming South Korean Inbee Park has matched Australian great Karrie Webb’s tally of seven majors as she dominates women’s golf in a way seldom seen.
The 27-year-old world No.1 claimed her seventh major in spectacular fashion with a record-equalling 65, including an eagle and seven birdies, to win the Women’s British Open by three shots at Turnberry on Sunday.
Only Tiger Woods and fellow American Mickey Wright won seven majors at a younger age.
In a sensational streak, Park has won six of the last 14 majors to be only three short of Annika Sorenstam’s modern-day women’s record tally of 10.
“This is the greatest day of my life for sure,” said Park, who became just the seventh LPGA player to complete a career grand slam, joining Sorenstam, Webb, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley, Wright and Louise Suggs.
“It feels great, this is something I have been dreaming of all my life,” she said.
“I finally reached my goal. It’s just a relief. I’m so happy with everything.
“I can’t really say what the next goal is because this is the one I set for my career.”
The grand slam is not to be confused with the new “super slam” which includes the Evian Championship in France now that has been elevated as a fifth major – though Park did win that too in 2013.
The British Open was her second major of the season, following her third successive LPGA Championship in June. She has also won two US Opens and the 2013 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Park finished eight strokes ahead of the highest placed Australian, Minjee Lee, whose 73 in the final round gave her an overall total of 284 and a share of ninth place.
Ko Jin-Young, the 20-year-old Korean LPGA player, was three shots behind Park in second place after a 71, with world No.2 Lydia Ko (69) and Ryu So Yeon (68) tied for third on eight under par.
Ko, a joint overnight leader, holed massive putts for an eagle at the seventh and birdies at the eighth and 10th to take control.
But she made her first error when she three-putted for bogey at the 13th, then dumped her second shot into the burn guarding the green at the 16th and ended up with a double-bogey six.
