St Andrews memories

Stacy Lewis joined the pantheon of St Andrews champions when she produced a stunning birdie-birdie finish to win the AIG Women’s Open in 2013.

Opening with a five-under 67, the American was in contention throughout and dug deep at the weekend, amid inclement weather conditions, to claim a second major title.

All eyes were on Inbee Park at the beginning of the week as she aimed to become the first professional golfer to win four consecutive majors in one season.

The South Korean – just the fourth player on the LPGA Tour to win three majors in a calendar year – was, however, unable to maintain her stunning winning streak, eventually finishing in a tie for 42nd place.

Camilla Lennarth and Morgan Pressel led a bunched chasing pack by a shot after day one, before Choi Na-yeon posted a second consecutive 67 to take over heading into the weekend.

One of the great challenges of links golf then bared its teeth, with high winds sweeping across the Old Course causing play to be suspended on day three.

Subsequently, a number of players – including Lewis – were forced to play two rounds on the Sunday as conditions improved.

Five shots off the lead at the start of round three, Lewis hit the ground running on Sunday, posting a three-under 69 which left her just a shot behind Pressel with just 18 holes to play.

Lewis mixed three birdies with five bogeys during a tough final round and was still two shots behind heading to the 17th. Her tee shot landed on the fairway, just under 200 yards from the pin.

She then hit one of the finest approach shots this Championship has ever seen, launching a 5-iron to within 10 feet of the hole, setting up a fourth birdie which reignited her title charge.

“That might be one of the best [shots] of my career,” she said afterwards.

“I thought if I could get to seven[-under] I could maybe make a play-off. Once I made birdie there, my caddie and I walked off the green and we said ‘one more’.”

One more birdie did arrive at the last, meaning she entered the clubhouse with every chance of victory.

Unfortunately for Choi Na-yeon, who had held a three-shot lead early on Sunday, she struggled on the back nine, falling into a tie for second place after three bogeys in her final six holes.

And after about an hour’s wait, Lewis was duly crowned the champion.

“It all happened so fast at the end,” she reflected. “You’re fighting for every shot, then all of a sudden you make a couple of birdies and it’s over with.

“It was an unbelievably hard day but this is a pretty good result.”