Japan & # 039; s Shibuno, 20, wins British & # 039; s British Open on major debut

Hinako Shibuno had never played outside of Japan before the OpenFinal round leaderboard-18 H Shibuno (Jpn); -17 L Salas (USA); -16 YJ Ko (Kor); -15 M Pressel (USA); -14 A Buhai (SA); -12 C Boutier (Fra); -11 C Ciganda (Spa), HS Park (Kor); -9 Jeongeun Lee6 (Kor), N Korda (USA) Selected others: -8 A Jutanugarn (Tha), M Lee (Aus); -7 L Thompson (USA); -5 C body (Eng); -3 B Law (Eng), G Hall (Eng); -2 B Henderson (Can) Full Scoreboard

The Japanese Hinako Shibuno made the final hole and achieved an astounding victory in the Women & # 39; s British Open in Woburn.

Shibuno, 20, led by two shots overnight but was quickly captured by the American Lizette Salas in an exciting final round.

Salas fired the lowest round of the week – seven under 65 – but Shibuno had five birdies on the back nine to win with one shot in her first major.

England & Charley Hull and Bronte Law slipped out of battle with rounds of four and six respectively.

Salas finished at 17 below and practiced putts for a potential play-off when Shibuno approached the 18th green, waving and smiling at both sides of the fairway.

And the rookie, who not only played in her first major but also appeared outside of Japan for the first time, showed no signs of nerves when she hit a solid 18ft putt that hit the back of the hole and almost fell to safe victory.

With the goal of winning her third major of 2019, world number one Ko Jin-young hit a six-under 66, but that was only good enough for third place, two shots behind Shibuno, with American Morgan Push back a shot further.

"I still have the feeling that I have to throw up," Shibuno said shortly after the victory. "I was more nervous at the front nine, but I was OK at the back nine. I felt like I was going to cry on the 18th but the tears did not come out."

After a relatively unknown arrival in England last week, Shibuno has earned a large number of new fans with her infectious smile, which even remained after a double bogey with four putts in the third hole.

That enabled Salas, 30, to cancel out the advantage Shibuno claimed on Saturday and at one point there was a tie for the lead during the first nine.

Salas & # 39; biggest challenge after the turn seemed to come from the Korean Ko, but Shibuno regrouped to launch a late load and roll in after Salas.