First-time winners in vogue

Women’s major season culminates at Walton Heath next week, with the Surrey golf club set to stage the AIG Women’s Open.

There are five showpiece events on the women’s circuit and this year the other four were claimed by first-time major winners, just as Ashleigh Buhai was when she triumphed at Muirfield 12 months ago.

Here’s a quick look at how the 2023 majors have unfolded so far:

Evian Championship – Celine Boutier

Frenchwoman Celine Boutier cruised to victory in the Evian Championship on home soil at the weekend, winning the title by a comfortable six-stroke margin.

The 29-year-old took a three-shot lead over Nasa Hataoka into the final day but quickly pulled clear with three birdies on the opening five holes.

She signed for a 68 to end the week on 14-under-par, six clear of last year’s winner Brooke Henderson.

Boutier is the first Frenchwoman to win the Evian Championship since it was designated as a major and just the third Frenchwoman in history to win a major.

US Women’s Open – Allisen Corpuz

Allisen Corpuz was congratulated by former US President, and fellow Hawaiian, Barack Obama after she won the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach at the beginning of July.

Corpuz finished on nine-under-par, three strokes clear of Charley Hull and two-time AIG Women’s Open winner Jiyai Shin.

The 25-year-old is enjoying her best major season to date, with a T4 finish at the Chevron Championship and a T15 finish at the Women’s PGA Championship also in the books.

Women’s PGA Championship – Ruoning Yin

Ruoning Yin birdied three of the last six holes to finish one stroke ahead of Yuka Saso and claim her maiden major crown.

Japan’s Saso, who won the US Women’s Open two years ago, birdied the last to take the clubhouse lead on eight-under-par.

But Yin followed suit to become China’s second women's major winner after Shanshan Feng, who triumphed at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2012.

The Chevron Championship – Lilia Vu

Lilia Vu prevailed in a play-off against Angel Yin to claim the first women’s major of the season, in April.

Sitting four shots off the lead after 54 holes, the American finished strongly with a four-under 68 forcing a play-off with Yin.

Yin found water with her second shot and could only par the first play-off hole, while Vu held her nerve to find a birdie and land the prize.

All eyes on Walton Heath

Will the run of first-time major winners continue at the AIG Women’s Open?

Tickets are still available for Walton Heath, for the Practice Day on Wednesday 9 August and all four days of the Championship, 10-13 August.

Meanwhile, Freya Ridings will support Ellie Goulding in a concert at the Surrey venue after the close of play on Saturday 12 August.