Rule Brittania! Georgia Hall Takes Ladies Open

Britan’s golf fans turned out by the thousands Sunday at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s, hoping for a piece of history for their girl — Georgia Hall.

The 22-year-old rising star of British women’s golf didn’t disappoint.

Hall, with her father on the bag, out-dueled overnight leader Pornanong Phatlum with a late birdie run.

Phatlum looked like she was well on her way to victory with four birdies over the first six-holes as the two went head-to-head and turned it into a two-woman race.

Hall had three birdies of her own on the front then got to 16-under with another at  the 13th to tie Phatlum.  Both birdied the 15th and were tied at 17-under then Hull pulled into the lead with another birdie at the 16th.

At the 17th, things would fall apart for Phatlum thanks to a poor tee shot that found a fairway bunker and all she had was a pitch-out.  Four shots later she walked off the green with double-bogey and Hall had a three-shot lead and an easy walk down the 18th.  Hull three-putted the final green for her only bogey of the round.  Didn’t matter.  Her 17-under total was good for a two-shot victory.

“I always joked that a major would be my first win,” Hall said. “I can’t believe it really happened. I played well today; I putted great,” she said in what was a major understatement. She averaged 28 putts per round and was seven-for-seven in sand saves on the devilishly bunkered Lytham course.

As for Phatlum, it was a disappointing finish to a week where she led after each of the first three rounds.

Final British Open Scores: