How Ashleigh Buhai ended SA’s 34-year wait for a women’s Major at the Open

After winning her maiden Major on the LPGA Tour at last month’s Women’s Open at Muirfield, Ashleigh Buhai has had little time to reflect on her life-changing achievement and the tidy prize purse of $1.095m (R18.9m). Since ending SA’s decade-long wait for another Major winner — Ernie Els won the Open Championship in 2012 — Buhai has played in consecutive tournaments in Canada and the US.

Buhai, who took up the sport at the age of six after swinging her first club at three, says golf chose her and it was what she was meant to do. She was the youngest women’s amateur champion in SA golf history at 14 and became the first player in 101 years to win the Ladies SA Open title three times, but a Major proved elusive until she found the missing link in her game this year.

Buhai, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, made history by keeping her cool to win a nerve-racking play-off against South Korea’s In Gee Chun. Armed with what she describes as the mental tools to cope under pressure and help her adapt under the gun, having started work with mental performance coach Duncan McCarthy at the beginning of the year, Buhai’s triumph brought to an end a 34-year wait for another female SA Major winner since Sally Little won the 1988 du Maurier Classic, and capped her rollercoaster ride in the sport.

“There was so much expectation put on me when I turned professional, and to finally follow in Sally’s footsteps and be the next SA lady to win a Major is a huge honour,” 33-year-old Buhai told TimesLIVE Premium from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she will be competing in the Kroger Queen City Championship this week, with a $1.75m (R27m) purse.

“There have been many highs and lows in my 15-year journey, as it is with this game, but finally winning a Major has made it all worthwhile. All we dream about as golfers is to win a Major, so for it to finally come true is fantastic. You’re going to lose more than you’re going to win but I get up every day wanting to be better.”

That Buhai has been playing with a herniated disc in her back, which was only discovered two months ago, makes her Major-winning achievement in Scotland even more remarkable. At the British Open she was at times seen holding her rib area, which led to people speculating about a potential injury for the former teen prodigy.

“I’m playing strapped up every week right now,” she revealed. “There is no surgery required, but it’s come about because of what we as golfers put our bodies through. Every time I rotate, the herniated disc impinges on a nerve and gives me referred pain.”

Buhai can look to Tiger Woods as a golfer who has also pushed his body to the limit. The 46-year-old has practiced mind over matter upon his return from a career-threatening leg injury sustained in a horror car crash. Woods competed at the Masters and Open Championship — albeit missing the cut in the latter—  and Buhai is in awe of the American golfer’s ability to push through the pain barrier and compete at the top despite numerous setbacks.

“I think Tiger is superhuman,” said Buhai, who is ranked 25th in the women’s game. “What he has played with over the years, I don’t think many other people could. I’m nowhere near what he has been through, and in comparison, mine is a minor injury.”

Buhai’s husband, David, who caddied for her for eight years and gave up his golf career to be with her on tour, was the first person to rush onto the green and congratulate her on the historic Open victory. She says it’s his win just as much as hers because it’s been many years of sacrifice from them both. The couple, who have been together for 16 years, first met at the Glendower Golf Club and said their vows in 2016.

Nowadays, Buhai has a female caddie, Tanya Paterson, and she says it was a business decision to release David from the role and split their sources of income. The prize money in the women’s game is growing, but it’s nothing like the numbers being bandied about on the LIV golf tour. Woods reportedly turned down $900m (R15.5bn) to join the breakaway league, which is competing with the PGA tour.

“I think we need to be careful because I’m still one for the history and tradition of the game and I hope that doesn’t get lost,” Buhai said, in reference to the Saudi-backed league. “With LIV, you tee it up over 54 holes and it’s guaranteed money. Not having to make a cut does take the pressure off and I’m one for working hard for what you want.”

Buhai has her short-term sights set on playing a few more tournaments before taking a two-week break from the game. She feels she still hasn’t been able to rest and recover since the Open high.

Her longer-term aim is to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, having opted against partaking in the Covid-19 hit Tokyo Games last year, which she describes as the most difficult decision she’s made in her professional career owing to her patriotism.

“By that point I will be 35 and probably closer to the end of my career, but if I have one more Games in me I’d definitely like to do it,” said Buhai, who headlined SA’s bill of golfers at the Rio Olympics. “I want to have kids and it’s a bridge we as female athletes have to cross. I’m self-employed and won’t get maternity leave, so that will decide when I stop playing, but I have always said I’d like to have a child and try to come back.”