Buhai makes history at Muirfield, first SA female to win major in over 30 years

South African golfer Ashleigh Buhai has sealed her maiden major title with a four playoff hole win at the Women's Open at Muirfield in Scotland on Sunday.

Buhai made history by becoming only the second South African female to win a major championship.

Golf Hall of famer Sally Little is the only other South African woman to win a major, winning the Women's PGA Championship in 1980. Little also won the 1988 Du Maurier Classic, which was a women's Major from 1979 till 2000.

Buhai has won three times on the Ladies' European Tour and two South African Women's Opens but a LPGA Tour title had always alluded her.

On Sunday, the 33-year-old from Johannesburg claimed her maiden major and LPGA Tour title and emulated her childhood heroes Ernie Els and Gary Player by securing a major victory at Muirfield.

The sand save that made Ashleigh Buhai a major champion ??In her 221 career Tour start, @ash_simon makes her first win a major championship at Muirfield ??#AIGWO pic.twitter.com/AmWba0HBsu

Leading by five shots heading into the final round, Buhai had a nightmare day as she carded a birdie, two bogeys and a triple bogey to finish on 10-under alongside South Korea's Chun In-gee.

Buhai and In-gee had to take four trips back down the 18th hole, and it was fourth time lucky for Buhai as she made a par to win the Women's British Open.

It's also South Africa's first major - men and women - since Ernie Els' 2012 Open win at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The two other South Africans in the field made the cut: Paula Reto finished tied 58th and Lee-Ann Pace ended 65th.

Leading fourth and final round scores in the Women's British Open at Muirfield on Sunday (USA unless stated, Par 71):

274 - Ashleigh Buhai (RSA) 70-65-64-75, Chun In-gee (KOR) 68-66-70-70

(Buha