Ariya Jutanugarn is the number two-ranked player in the world and she does not carry a driver in her golf bag. Instead she has a 2-iron (an incredibly difficult club to hit consistently), and four different wedges for around the green. You would think this might hinder her ability to keep up until you realize she sits at 10th in driving distance off the tee at 269 yards. 

With just 9 holes to play in the Women’s US Open tournament, Ariya, a young 22-year-old golfer from Thailand had a commanding 7-stroke lead on her nearest competitor. She played the first 63 holes of the tournament at -16 under par, so lets pick this up on the back nine of the final round. 

“I looked at the scoreboard on hole 7 or 8 and had pretty good commitment [to my swings]. But on 10, I didn’t feel comfortable hitting 3-wood. I shouldn’t have hit 3-wood [but did]. It went right, and I ended up making a triple. I was a little bit scared for my next 3-wood shot from there.” said Ariya in an interview after her round. After the triple on 10, Ariya didn’t hit 3-wood again.  She proceeded to shoot 5 over par on the back 9 leaving her at -11 under for the tournament. 

The FOX broadcast group could not believe her strategy. “She’s playing not to lose!” “You can’t play defensive!!” “She HAS to hit 3-wood here!!!”. Ariya’s demeanor never changed, her putting routine never changed, she simply kept hitting what she felt comfortable hitting. Nonetheless, she finished tied at -11 with South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo. 

When two players are tied after four days and 72 holes of golf at the US Women’s Open, they go to a two-hole playoff, and if they remain tied after the two holes it becomes a sudden death format on hole three and beyond. 

On the first playoff hole, Kim makes a long winding, 30+ foot putt for birdie and Ariya gives an approving golf clap, recognizing the skill that took. “I don’t understand applauding your opponent there,” said Paul Azinger on the FOX broadcast. 

Down to her final hole, down a stroke, she again hits 2 iron and misses left, the wrong place to miss on a hole protected by water. This left her with an incredibly risky and difficult second shot under a tree in the rough, and Kim was in the best possible position on the right, in the fairway with a clear shot at the green. Take a look:

As Ariya was walking to her ball, down to her final straw, Juli Inkster on the FOX Broadcast team assumed the tournament was over, “I hope her career can recover from this massive collapse.” 

Everyone had written off Ariya except herself. She didn’t panic, she didn’t collapse, she just followed her process and hit shots she was 100% confident in. She showed incredible grace, congratulating her competition after good shots and smiling in the midst of a very disappointing stretch. Ariya ultimately kept her cool and pulled a great shot on the second playoff hole to stay alive. She eventually emerged victorious after 4 playoff holes as the 2018 Women’s US Open Champion.

What a great tournament – impressive golf, an exciting finish, and great examples of sportsmanship and perseverance. Also, FOX needs a new broadcast team.