American Lilia Vu shrugs off self-doubt to win second Major at Women’s British Open

WALTON ON THE HILL, Surrey – Lilia Vu shrugged off a bout of imposter syndrome and sealed her second Major title of 2023 with a dominant six-shot victory over Charley Hull at the Women’s British Open on Sunday.

The 25-year-old posted a final-round 67 to finish on 14 under and pocket the US$1.35 million (S$1.83 million) winner’s cheque. She is set to replace fellow American Nelly Korda as the new world No. 1 for the first time in her career.

“It sounds almost unreal to hear my name announced as champion,” said an emotional Vu after her triumph. “I’ve had a tough couple of months. I just wanted to be in contention this week.”

She won her first LPGA tournament in Thailand in February and then claimed her first Major in April at the Chevron Championship. But she missed the cut at the next two Majors – the LPGA Championship and the US Women’s Open.

“I didn’t feel like myself for the past couple of months. After the Chevron, and how I felt afterwards, honestly thinking that those two wins were a fluke... I lost confidence,” she said, as the tears began to flow.

“But I’ve got a great family and team around me and they gave me belief.”

Vu appeared very calm as she plotted her way to the trophy, but she continued: “I wasn’t calm inside. Even on the last putt (she holed from 25 feet for birdie at the 18th), my caddie just told me how to hit it.”

She was also grateful to the British fans. Playing alongside Hull, who started the day as co-leader with Vu but had to settle for second place, she was always going to come second best in the cheer stakes.

“But the crowd was great,” said Vu. “I love playing with Charley. I understood most people wanted her to win. But there were cheers for me too and it was very fair.”

Hull, who also finished second at the US Women’s Open, admitted she felt a bit deflated after a closing 73. “But I’m going to work even harder to win a Major,” she said.

“I came from behind at the US Open and here I was tied for the lead going into the final round. I can’t wait for next year.”

Hull, 27, added: “She played unbelievable, really. I just don’t feel like I got a break, to be fair... I just didn’t feel anything went my way, even some lies that I had. I was just running out of steam at the end.”

Even a demonstration by climate activists Just Stop Oil at the short 17th – powder was thrown onto the green – could not spoil Vu’s march to victory.

She started well by birdieing the par-four second hole. By the time she had added more birdies at the ninth and 10th, her lead had been extended to a comfortable five shots.

Hull, who dropped shots at No. 3 and 4, raised hopes of mounting a comeback when she holed out of a bunker for an eagle three at the 11th. But Vu immediately hit back with an unanswered tap-in birdie at the 12th.

The Californian made her only bogey after driving into heather at the 15th, but Hull also dropped a shot and it was all but over.

South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai, the two-time former champion, closed with a 70 for third place on seven under. England’s Charlotte Heath won the Smyth Salver for the leading amateur. She closed with a 76 for a seven-over total.

Vu has not had an easy road to the top. She turned professional in 2019 but made only one cut in nine starts on her first season on the LPGA Tour, earning US$3,830. She then stepped back to the Epson Tour and won three events in 2021 to regain her LPGA card.

This has been her breakthrough year though. She has pocketed just over US$2.5 million and will be the fourth American to ever reach the top spot in the Rolex Rankings, alongside Korda, Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr.

Vu said: “Being the best in the world, that’s just crazy to me, just thinking about the struggle I had this year and just to come out with that, it’s just incredible.”

AFP, REUTERS