Buhai eager to live up to major status at SA Women's Open: 'I want to win'

The reigning British Open champion Ashleigh Buhai is eager to add a fourth SA Women's Open title as the co-sanctioned event takes place from Wednesday at Steenberg Golf Club.

Buhai leads a competitive Investec SA Women's Open field as 120 golfers vie for a prize fund of €320 000 (R5.9 million) in the Sunshine Ladies Tour season finale.

Last August, Buhai made history as she became the first South African female golfer to win a Major championship since 1988. 

Buhai also became the third South African woman to win a major as she clinched a thrilling play-off at Muirfield.

The 33-year-old tees up for the first time in South Africa since capturing her Major and vies for her fifth Ladies European Tour title.

"I want to win every event... I know there's going to be pressure on me this week. I think everybody expects me to tee up and win. But there is no guarantees," said Buhai on Tuesday at a press conference.

"So hopefully, I can just go out there and keep doing what I've been doing, sticking to my processes, my steps."

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The Sunshine Ladies Tour played for just over R1 million in its first year in 2014, and thanks to sponsorships, the purse this year has grown to a total of R16 million.

Buhai, who is a regular on the lucrative LPGA Tour, is delighted to see the women's game grow in South Africa and hopes this sees more youngsters coming through the ranks.

"It's fantastic to see how the Sunshine Ladies Tour has grown and how the sponsors are starting to support women's golf in South Africa. And you can see it in the training of women's golf around the world," said Buhai.

"All prize purses are starting to increase, so it's great that they're