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Australia’s Minjee Lee wins Annika Major Award after finishing tied for fourth at Women’s British Open

Minjee Lee has emerged from a day of high drama without the major spoils but with another one of golf’s most prestigious awards.

Lee fell tantalizingly short of becoming Australia’s first female golfer to capture the world-number-one ranking following a tie for fourth at the Women’s British Open in Scotland.

The Perth ace needed to win or finish second, but wound up three shots behind triumphant South African Ashleigh Buhai, who denied In Gee Chun in an epic, tension-filled sudden-death play-off that stretched four holes and ended under fading light on Sunday.

Buhai almost threw away the tournament with a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the par-4 15th before regaining her nerve to land the biggest title of her career.

After starting the day with a five-stroke leader, the 33-year-old finished at 10-under-par 274 following a closing 4-over 75.

A golfer smiles as she stands in the light holding a major trophy, with a clubhouse in near-darkness behind her.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai won the Women’s Open on the fourth hole of a playoff with In Gee Chun. (AP: Scott Heppell)

Chun carded a 70 but could not find the birdie needed in the play-off to claim a fourth career major.

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