Ariya Jutanugarn wins US Women’s Open despite seven-shot collapse

Heading into the back nine at the US Women’s Open with a seven-shot lead, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn briefly appeared in danger of emulating the great Arnold Palmer for all the wrong reasons.

Palmer collapsed in spectacular fashion at the US Open in 1966, surrendering a seemingly unassailable advantage before losing a playoff to eventual champion Billy Casper.

This weekend at the Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club, Jutanugarn did no such thing.

What might have been the most difficult day of the 22-year-old’s career ended with her winning Sunday’s playoff against Hyo-Joo Kim and walking away $900,000 richer with a second major title.

Jutanugarn kisses the US Women's Open trophy after surviving one of the scares of her career.

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She certainly didn’t make it easy for herself.

“It was really tough for because I played my front nine so good and my back nine not very good,” Jutanugarn told CNN, after a triple bogey on the 10th kick started an almost terminal collapse.

“It was tough because I started thinking about the outcome and tried to play good. Obviously that wasn’t going to happen because I was thinking about the outcome too much.”

Jutanugarn admitted in her press conference she’d been aware of the scoreboard, “scared” and too “uncomfortable” to hit a three wood. Meanwhile Kim was closing the gap. Fast.

The South Korean, who shot a major record 61 at the 2014 Evian Championship, steadily chipped away at Jutanugarn’s lead, ending the round as the only player with a blemish-free scorecard.

The Thai, by contrast, made further bogeys on the 12th, 17th and 18th. A playoff awaited.

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The key to success? Smiling

Having worked with mental coach in Thailand for around two years, a positive mindset was the key to Jutanugarn’s subsequent victory, secured after the fourth playoff hole.

“Honestly I tried to smile,” she said. “I thought if I kept doing that it was going to make me happy. I tried hard to do that.

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Golf and Jason? Ariya Jutanugarn's perfect day

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“After you have a seven-shot lead and have to go to a playoff, you kind of have no expectation. I got mad a little bit about what happened in my back nine, but I decided I’d just make sure I’d do my best to every shot.

“Because I felt disappointed already, I didn’t think about the outcome. It just felt like a last chance to make myself proud. I just took the shot in front of me.”

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No greens in sight —

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Ice cool swinging —

Set 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, players have to cope with freezing glaciers and huge icebergs. It gives a whole new meaning to 'finding the rough.'

World Ice Golf Championship —

A winner is lifted atop a traditional dog sled after victory...

World Ice Golf Championship —

But it's certainly not a tournament for the faint-hearted.

Fire in the hole —

In the far warmer climes of Indonesia, a golf course can be found in the shadow of active volcano, Mount Merapi.

Merapi golf club —

Indonesia raised its alert for the volcano to its highest level in October 2010 and ordered people living nearby to evacuate. It last erupted in June 2006, killing two people, but its deadliest activity occurred in 1930 when more than 1,300 people died.

Kabul Golf Club —

Kabul Golf Club describes itself as the "best and only" course in Afghanistan and promises "golf with an attitude." An armed security guard stands beside the entrance.

Front line —

An Afghan player takes a swing during a tournament at the Kabul Golf Club. The nine-hole course, which first opened in 1967, became a battlefield in the 1990s when rival Mujahideen factions fought among themselves after overthrowing a Soviet-backed regime.

Helicopter hazard —

To play the 19th hole at Legends Golf Resort in South Africa, you have to take a helicopter to the tee, which is perched on top of a mountain.

Legends Golf Resort —

The green below is in the shape of Africa ...

A long way down —

...This par-three is 631 meters (690 yards) long.

Hot, hot, hot —

As well as a regular 18-hole layout, New Zealand's Arikikapakapa Rotorua Golf Club also has a nine-hole thermal course where hot springs bubble, geysers spring and the smell of sulphur fills the air. The course sits alongside the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve.

Speed golf —

Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Indianapolis has four holes inside the circuit that the famous Indy 500 is staged on.

Bay warriors —

Located on New Zealand's North Island, the Cape Kidnappers Golf course is considered one of the most beautiful and enchanting in the world. High up on the cliffs with a picturesque view, players must negotiate the deep gullies and crevices between each hole.

Desert drive —

Not all extreme golfing venues are so formal. Here a US Army soldier hits a golf ball at his forward operating base in Paktika province, situated along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

Driving range —

Before his death in 2011, British-American photographer Tim Hetherington spent time taking pictures of a US contingent of soldiers establishing an outpost in northeastern Afghanistan. Now on display at the Open Eye gallery in Liverpool, Hetherington's work explores how these soldiers cope with their emotionally draining existence -- in this case by playing on a makeshift driving range.

Sand golf —

Mention the words "sand" and "golf" together, and the chances are you'll leave many players shuddering at the memory of being trapped in bunkers after another wayward shot...

Sand golf —

...But in other parts of the world, sand golf is a version of the game in its own right. Padraig Harrington of Ireland putts on the 17th hole during the Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championships at the Al Ghazal Golf Club in 2004.

Head for heights —

Bolivia's La Paz Golf Club is considered to be the highest in the world, with parts of the course 3,342 meters (almost 11,000 feet) above sea level.

La Paz Golf Club —

An indigenous Aymara woman plays an approach shot as her colleague holds the flag.

La Paz Golf Club —

Situated on the edge of a canyon and surrounded by the snow-capped Andes mountains, the altitude means it's a course to quite literally take the breath away. What's the craziest golf course you've ever played? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook page

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She joins Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Inbee Park as the only players to win both the US women’s Open and the British Open.

Palmer never won a major again after his collapse all those years ago. Jutanugarn, at this rate, appears to be just getting started.

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“I want to play golf as long as I can [and] just try to win my next tournament” she told CNN. “I want to be the best in my own way.”

CNN’s Alex Thomas contributed to this report