Jeon In-ji, lost in overtime "So close, career Grand Slam"... Buhai 'First career win' (Summary)

Runner-up at This Year's Final Major AIG Women's Open, Shibuno 3rd, Minji Lee Tied 4th, Inbee Park Tied 22nd

Jeon In-ji is making a bunker shot on the first hole of the playoff, the 18th hole, on the final day of the major AIG Women's Open. Muirfield (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "Flying Dumbo" Jeon In-ji (28) failed to achieve the "Career Grand Slam."

On the 8th (Korean time) at Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland (par 71, 6,680 yards), the final day of the last major of the year on the LPGA Tour, the AIG Women's Open (total prize money $7.3 million), Jeon In-ji added one under par to tie with Ashley Buhai (South Africa) at 10 under par 274, but gave a bogey on the fourth hole of the playoff at the 18th hole (par 4), finishing as runner-up. She challenged the "Career Grand Slam," which involves winning four of the five major women's golf tournaments worldwide, but fell short by 2%.

Jeon started tied for second place, five strokes behind the leader, and recorded three birdies and two bogeys. She gained momentum with birdies on holes 2, 4, and 6, but made her first bogey on the 10th hole (par 4) when her tee shot landed in a pot bunker. On the 12th hole (par 4), her second shot pulled left and missed the green, costing her another stroke. Although Buhai collapsed with a triple bogey on the 15th hole (par 4), allowing Jeon to catch up, neither player was able to reduce their score on the remaining holes, leading to a playoff.

Jeon fought fiercely through the third playoff hole, but on the fourth hole, her tee shot landed in a bunker. After laying up with her second shot and reaching the green with her third, she missed an approximately 8-meter par putt and shed tears. Jeon is a "big match player," having won three of her four career victories in major tournaments: the 2015 US Women's Open, the 2016 Amundi Evian Championship, and the KPMG Women's PGA Championship last June. She will aim again for the "Career Grand Slam" at the Chevron Championship in April next year.

Ashley Bouchy is celebrating immediately after winning her first career victory at the major AIG Women's Open. Muirfield (Scotland) = Getty Images / MultiBits Photo by MultiBits

Buhai lost four strokes and was forced into a playoff but succeeded in saving par from the bunker on the fourth playoff hole to claim the victory. Since debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2008, she won her first career title at a major. The winner's prize money is $1,095,000 (1.4 billion KRW). She became the second South African player to win a major after Sally Little. Buhai's husband is David, the caddie of Lee Jeong-eun 6 (26). She tearfully said, "The caddie's help was huge," and "I am proud of myself."

2019 champion Hinako Shibuno (Japan) finished third by one stroke at 9 under par 275. "US Women's Open champion" Minjee Lee (Australia) finished tied for fourth at 7 under par 277 and was awarded the Annika Award, which ranks players based on their combined results in the five major tournaments. From Korea, Kim A-rim tied for 13th at 4 under par 280, and Kim Hyo-joo (both 27) tied for 15th at 3 under par 281. Park In-bi (34) struggled with 7 over par and dropped to a tie for 22nd at even par 284.