Catriona Matthew became the first Scottish woman to clinch a major title when she won the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The 39-year-old, who led by three overnight, won by three shots from Karrie Webb after birdies on 13, 14 and 15 gave her a one-over 73.
Australia's Webb closed with a four-under-par 68 to finish on level par.
Americans Paula Creamer and Christina Kim, Japan's Ai Miyazato and Korea's Hee-Won Han finished joint third.
Scotland's Matthew, who only gave birth to her second child 11 weeks ago, is only the fourth Briton to win a major and the first since England's Karen Stupples triumphed at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale in 2004.
"There have been times when I've wondered if I was ever going to win a major. I thought time was beginning to run out," Matthew said.
Matthew began poorly with bogeys at the 1st and 3rd but steadied the ship with six successive pars before letting another shot slide away at the 10th to drop to one under par.
Matthew overcome by Open victory
Meanwhile, Webb, who started the day eight shots adrift, eagled 15 and birdied 16 to post the clubhouse lead.
But the seven-time major winner's bogey-free round was only good enough for second as Matthew recovered to sink a trio of birdies, including a monster 45-foot putt on the 14th.
"That putt on 14 really steadied me," Matthew told BBC Sport. "I didn't play well, but I hung in there.
"I can't quite believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet. Coming up the last I had tears in my eyes and I had to hold myself together for those last two putts."
Defending champion Jiyai Shin began the day four shots adrift of Matthew and the Korean was never in contention after dropping a couple of shots on the outward nine as she closed with a three-over-par 75.
606: DEBATE
Yesss. Catriona wins easily in the end. How do ya like that folks?
Charlie_Chaplin
Creamer provided the real threat to Matthew after birdies on 14 and 15 moved her to one under par and within a couple of shots of the lead.
But her good work was undone when she drove into a fairway bunker on the last and she was forced to play backwards. She then hit her approach through the green and finished with a double bogey.
Miyazato, who briefly shared the lead on one under par, also self-destructed with a double bogey on 17, while Matthew's closest overnight rival, Kim, haemorrhaged shots early on and despite knocking in a couple of birdie putts, was never in contention.
US teenager Michelle Wie carded a final-round 69 to finish seven shots off the lead, while world number one Lorena Ochoa was 13 behind after a fourth-round 74.
England's Laura Davies has won four majors (1987 US Women's Open, 1994 and 1996 LPGA Championship and 1996 Du Maurier Classic) and compatriot Alison Nicholas claimed the 1997 US Open.
The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major in 2001.