Martin began the day seemingly out of contention after a torrid round of 77 yesterday and things looked to be even worse for the 31-year-old when she carded two bogeys in the opening five holes.

However, a birdie at the sixth followed by nine pars put her right back in contention before her moment of magic at the last on a day that saw no player manage to break par due to the tough windy conditions.

Martin ripped a three-wood from the middle of the fairway into the 18th and the ball pinged off the flag to drop just six-feet from the hole to leave her with her putt for eagle.

After knocking it in, Martin finished with a round of 72 leaving her at one-under par for the tournament, but she had to wait to see what happened as the chasing pack came through the final stretch.

Martin has described her second shot into the 18th at Royal Birkdale as the shot of her life ©Getty Images



Overnight leader Inbee Park of South Korea remained in contention, despite a double bogey on the 10th, until she hit the bunker on the final hole.

The world number three needed a birdie to force a playoff but instead dropped a shot to sign for a 77, leaving her two away from Martin.

China's Feng Shanshan was the next to finish her round and looked to be on course for at least a playoff before a bogey at the 16th and a missed long birdie putt on the last saw her score a 76 to leave her at level-par for the tournament.

Norway's Suzann Pettersen was the only player now who could deny Martin her first tournament win since joining the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour six years ago.

However, a second double bogey of the day at the 13th left the Norwegian needing to pick up three shots at the final two holes.

She bagged one of those at the 17th and had to follow the lead of Martin by making an eagle at the last to force the playoff.

That task was made harder as the Norwegian found the bunker off the tee and despite a decent effort she could not chip in from the sand and had to settle for a birdie and a share of second place.

Suzann Pettersen's wayward shot off the tee at the 18th paid put to her hopes of forcing a playoff against Martin ©Getty Images



"The 18th was the greatest shot of my life," said an ecstatic Martin afterwards, who was ranked at 99 in the world coming into the tournament.

"An absolutely perfect three-wood.

"When it was in the air, I said, 'Sit.'

"And then I said, 'Stop.'

"And then when it was going toward the hole, I said, 'OK, I don't have anything more to say to that ball.'

"I actually heard it hit the pin.

"It's definitely one to remember."

Martin picked up a cheque for £277,887 ($475,645/€349,541) and becomes the third American this year to win a major after Lexi Thompson at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and Michelle Wie's win at the Women's US Open last month.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
July 2014: South Korean Park leads Women's British Open after compatriot Ahn handed two-stroke penalty
July 2014: Martin leads Women's British Open by three as Wie misses cut at Royal Birkdale
July 2014: Japan's Uehara shoots round of 68 to lead Women's British Open
July 2014: Wie targeting more success at Women's British Open