South Korea’s Haeran Ryu overcame a rocky start to clinch her first major victory by two shots at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The 25-year-old carried a one-shot lead over compatriot Ina Yoon into Sunday’s final round at a blustery Hazeltine National Golf Club. After a morning thunderstorm forced the course to close for three and a half hours, the long fairways became even more challenging. Ryu found her lead tested early, as she faltered with an opening bogey, then followed a birdie at the 3rd with back-to-back bogeys at the 4th and 5th.
Yoon saw the opening and took it, briefly holding the lead after a strong start with birdies at the 1st and 2nd, however, a double bogey at the 3rd and another dropped shot at the 5th set her back and she drew level with Ryu. But the latter was quickly back on track as she birdied the 7th and maintained the lead from there. Canada’s Brooke Henderson, who also began the day a shot adrift of Ryu, placed herself into contention with two birdies around the turn. But Ryu birdied the same holes and then added another at the 12th, while Henderson was unable to keep pace and slipped further away from the lead with a bogey at the 14th. Pars over the closing six holes were enough to secure Ryu’s maiden major title, as she signed off with a 2-under 70 to finish 13 under.
“It feels like a dream has come true because I tried a couple times to be a major champion and I didn’t get it,” Ryu said afterwards. “Today I did it and I’m so happy right now.”
The victory was all the more remarkable considering she was tied for 70th after an opening-round 73 on Thursday. Ryu became the first player in at least the past 60 years to win a major after trailing by 10 or more shots following the first round. She is now also the sixth South Korean to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship over the last 12 editions of the event.
23-year-old Yoon also made a strong bid to win but finished runner-up on 11 under, recording her sixth career top-10 finish.
“Haeran played unbelievable today,” Yoon said. “Brooke, I like to play her, play with her all the time. She’s such a nice girl. I learned a lot today, this week.”
Henderson settled for third place alongside Netherlands’ Dewi Weber on 10 under. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Nelly Korda fell short of winning a third consecutive major title, carding a frustrating final-round 73 to finish in a share for eighth on 6 under. With two more upcoming majors next month, a grand slam is still not off the table for the American.
“I was just thinking about the way that I played,” Korda said, “not like the realistic big picture that everyone is talking about.”
What is the next event?
The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is The Amundi Evian Championship taking place between 9-12 July at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.