2023-10-30 05:09:55
We’re almost starting to get used to it! Céline Boutier won for the fourth time this season this Sunday morning at the Maybank Championship, an LPGA tournament, the major American circuit relocated to Malaysia for the week. And to get there, the Frenchwoman, world number 5 before the tournament, had an impressive final day.
With 5 shots behind on the lead at the start of the fourth round, the Francilienne scored a magnificent 64, with 8 birdies, and a mostly bogey-free card over her last 18 holes. Leader in the clubhouse at -21 total, Boutier was finally joined by former world number 1 Atthaya Thitikul, who made a birdie on his last hole. The two women therefore embarked on an exceptional playoff.
Without being able to decide between themselves on the first two holes, with rain starting to show up on the course, Boutier and Thitikul finally saw their duel interrupted for almost two hours due to the weather conditions before to resume. Difficult to know at this time who, the native of Clamart, winner of her first career Major this season in Evian, or the young 20-year-old Thai, already well established at the highest level, would win.
Both players took turns having their opportunity. Boutier stayed in the match during the 4th playoff hole with a very good putt under pressure of more than 3 m. On the next hole, it was the Frenchwoman’s turn to miss the opportunity from longer distance, with a ball that stopped just above the target. Atthaya Thitikul missed the winning putt during the 7th duel between the two. An endless playoff with two players who didn’t give up, like two copied and pasted approaches, placed at the flag on the 8th playoff hole.
We had to wait until the 9th hole to see Céline Boutier timidly clench her fist, and look up to the sky like a sigh of relief. For Malaysian spectators, a new tie was enough to break the record for the longest playoff in LPGA history (10 holes in 1972). “I’m already glad the day is over. It was so trying, so tight,” Boutier breathed as he left the green.
This shows that this final battle, and this 81st contested hole of the week for both players, was grueling. To the great pleasure of the Frenchwoman who is giving herself an early birthday present for her 30th birthday on November 10. And why not a second, even more beautiful one? Depending on Lilia Vu’s result on the Aramco Team Series in Saudi Arabia this Sunday, Céline Boutier could even become world number 1! A potential great first in the history of French golf, men and women alike.
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