Lilia Vu wins AIG Women’s Open

Lilia Vu won the first major championship of 2023. It was fitting, therefore, that she should win the last, too.

The 25-year-old American closed with a five-under 67 to win the AIG Women’s Open by six shots from home favourite Charley Hull at Walton Heath.

Vu’s victory follows her success in the Chevron Championship in April and is her third LPGA title of the season. She is the first American to achieve that feat since 2002.

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After getting her hands on the trophy, however, the new champ admitted that she worried her two victories earlier in the year had been a ‘fluke’ after struggling for form during the summer.

“I had a pretty tough run the past couple of months,” said Vu. “I didn’t feel like myself so I came into this tournament, sat down with my team, and I just wanted to be in contention and somehow this happened.

“It just comes down to not thinking about winning and playing one shot at a time. This golf course really forces you to do that. It really tests you. So, that was my only goal, to drive the ball well and give myself chances for birdie.”

Your 2023 AIG Women's Open winner, Lilia Vu! 👏

Her victory at Walton Heath looks set to see her become the new world number one 🥇 pic.twitter.com/pb3uIX2cIs

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) August 13, 2023

Vu’s win spelled disappointment for fans who had shown up to the Surrey golf course today hoping to see Charley Hull win her maiden major.

She and Vu were tied going into the final round but, whilst Vu hit the accelerator early on Sunday, Hull’s challenge stalled, a spectacular hole-out for eagle from a greenside bunker on 11 as good as it got for her.

In the end, the English ace signed for a one-over 73 to finish runner-up in a major for the second time this year, following her near-miss at the US Women’s Open in June.

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Speaking to Henni Koyack on Sky Sports afterwards, Hull said: “I feel a bit deflated. I just don’t feel like anything went my way today.

“I feel like I played quite solid but didn’t hole many putts. I had a dirty lip-out on the fifth and it kind of just killed my momentum.

“I played well, just not as well as I wanted to, and Lilia just ran away with it.

“Truthfully, I want to be with my coach at 10am tomorrow morning and work on a load of stuff.  I really feel like next year’s my time to win one and I want to get started as soon as possible.

“I want to make my hands bleed, I want to hit that many golf balls.”

Whilst there was disappointment for Hull, there was joy for another English golfer, Charlotte Heath, who claimed the Smyth Salver as this year’s leading amateur.

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