We’re 99% sure nobody has ever celebrated winning a major like Lilia Vu

Wins in golf are rare. Everybody knows that. And that’s precisely why it’s important you celebrate them when they come along.

Ask Lilia Vu.

The 26-year-old romped to victory in the AIG Women’s Open a year ago, holding off Charley Hull to win by six shots at Walton Heath.

It was a second major title of the year for the Californian, following her success in the Chevron Championship four months earlier, so naturally she wanted to treat herself to something nice.

A new house? Nope. A car? Wrong. Perhaps a shiny new watch or a piece of diamond jewellery? No and no.

• Will there ever be a Women’s Masters? Gemma Dryburgh thinks so…

• AIG Women’s Open: Round 1 tee times in full

Instead, she got something rather different.

A new cat.

Speaking at St Andrews ahead of her title defence this week, Vu revealed that, following her Chevron success last year, her dad promised to let her get a cat if she won another major.

Lo and behold, she did. And as a result, there’s been a new additional to the family since she last pegged it up in the season’s final major.

“I don’t want to be clichéd but I got a cat from it,” revealed Vu. “That’s was my bribe from my dad last year. And now we’ve got another bribe to get another cat if I win another major, so hopefully I can do that.

“But, yeah, my cat I named him Walton after Walton Heath. Hopefully I can get another cat and maybe name it something else.”

Andrew, perhaps.

• Charley Hull issues injury update ahead of AIG Women’s Open

• The LIV Golf stars in danger of being axed for 2025 season

That being said, defending the Women’s Open is notoriously difficult. Not since Yani Tseng in 2011 has a player gone back-to-back in the event. Prior to that, you have to go back to Sherri Steinhauer in 1999.

Vu, though, is trying not to pay too much attention to the history books.

“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to defend a title,” she said. “It’s a new week at a new golf course. I’m just going to show up to the tournament the same way I do every single time and try to beat the course every day if it allows with the weather.

“Every single time that people think, oh, I’m defending something, it feels like you have something to lose. But when you start fresh at the beginning of the tournament, you haven’t won the tournament yet. So, I think I’m going to stick to that kind of mindset.”

Whether or not it leads to a new furry friend come, we’ll find out on Sunday.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor