Ashleigh Buhai edges our Golfer of the Week award this week purely because it felt momentous to have a home-grown top-20 player in the world come home to take her national open championship in a convincing and thrilling fashion.
From the moment she teed off in the first round until she made birdie on the 72nd hole to seal a four-stroke victory, her fourth in the Investec South African Women’s Open Championship, Buhai looked every inch a major champion.
She attracted crowds every day, and they just grew as the final round approached. As much as she was appreciated, so she appreciated her support with a display of golf of the highest order – even when she was suffering from a stomach bug that laid a lot of the field low.
And after it all, she went patiently through the media mill with grace, and made sure she had time for young fans who expressed their fandom more demonstrably than the adults did.
And while Stefan Wears-Taylor’s maiden victory came into consideration for the award, the context of Buhai’s win makes it more significant… and for all that, she is our Golfer of the Week, brought to you by 
