Hinako Shibuno wins British & # 039; s British Open at debut

The 20-year-old fired five little birds on her back nine to keep America's Lizette Salas off with one shot.

Shibuno led by two blows entered the final lap, but descended back to the pack before getting out of Salas and sinking a long birdie-putt on the last to win the first prize of $ 675,000 to earn.

World No.1 Ko Jin-young from South Korea was two shots eagerly in third place.

Shibuno, who smiled during the final round and was high-fiving fans, only became the second Japanese player – male or female – to win a major after Chako Higuchi at the Women & # 39; s PGA Championship 1977.

Asked how she will celebrate, she told reporters: "Eat lots of sweets."

She added, "I love typical Japanese sweets made from squid or seaweed."

Shibuno seemed so relaxed that she even joked with her caddy for the crucial second shot in 18 with the tournament on the line.

"I spoke to the caddy about the second shot [saying] if I were to withdraw it, it would be very embarrassing," laughed Shibuno, whose manager Hiroshi Shigematsu is often seen in funny costumes around her to make you smile. On Sunday he wore a blue wig with a clown mask.

Shibuno became 559th in the world in early 2019, but had climbed to 44th for the event in Buckinghamshire, England after two wins on the Japan LPGA Tour.

"Now that I have won, I think many of the Japanese people will know me, but in reality I just wanted to live a quiet life," she said.