- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,230,785
- Reaction score
- 59
One day after Haeran Ryu recorded the lowest round in major championship history, an 11-under 60, she was clutch when it counted most at the Amundi Evian. After nearly going all Sunday without a birdie, Ryu made her first on the par-5 18th in regulation and then did it again on the first playoff hole to defeat a hard-charging, relentless Brooke Henderson.
"I'm so happy, I can't believe it right now," said a champagne-soaked Ryu. It's the first time in LPGA history that two different players have won mutiple majors in the same season after world No. 1 Nelly Korda won the first two before Ryu went back-to-back.
The Amundi Evian is rarely short on drama, and Henderson was a history-making highlight reel.
Henderson carded her third eagle of the day – an LPGA record – on the 72nd hole to force the playoff. The Canadian's 8-foot eagle putt came moments after Ryu drained her own birdie putt from 15 feet, becoming the first player to reach 19 under.
Japan's Aki Iwai pushed her 12-foot birdie putt right of the hole to finish solo third, her best finish in a major. She gave an emotional interview immediately after, saying through tears that she never gave up.
Ryu led by as five strokes early on Sunday. But as her putter went cold, Canada's Henderson unleashed major fireworks, going eagle-ace on Nos. 7 and 8 to cut the lead to one stroke as Ryu made bogey.
Iwai opened with a bogey on the first hole and a double on the third but gutted it out to give herself a chance. Back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 gave her a share of the lead at 18 under. After Henderson birdied the par-3 16th, it was three tied at the top.
A shocking three-putt from Henderson on the 17th put her one back of Iwai and Ryu with only the 461-yard par-5 left to play. After Iwai and Ryu hit their tee shots left and were forced to lay up, Henderson hit the green in two from 172 yards, setting up an eagle putt that was similar to the putt she made to win the Evian in 2022.
On the first playoff hole, the roles were reversed as Henderson missed it left off the tee and Ryu had 167 yards in for her second shot from the fairway. On-course reporter Alison Whitaker said she was looking at David and Goliath, with 94 yards separating the two players off the tee.
Henderson laid up to 117 yards and then pulled her 48-degree wedge long and off the green. Though she had chipped in so many times all week, she couldn't summon the magic on last time. Ryu two-putted for birdie, knocking in a testy putt from just inside 3 feet to take the take the title.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Haeran Ryu beats Brooke Henderson in playoff at Evian for second major win
Continue reading...
"I'm so happy, I can't believe it right now," said a champagne-soaked Ryu. It's the first time in LPGA history that two different players have won mutiple majors in the same season after world No. 1 Nelly Korda won the first two before Ryu went back-to-back.
The Amundi Evian is rarely short on drama, and Henderson was a history-making highlight reel.
Henderson carded her third eagle of the day – an LPGA record – on the 72nd hole to force the playoff. The Canadian's 8-foot eagle putt came moments after Ryu drained her own birdie putt from 15 feet, becoming the first player to reach 19 under.
Japan's Aki Iwai pushed her 12-foot birdie putt right of the hole to finish solo third, her best finish in a major. She gave an emotional interview immediately after, saying through tears that she never gave up.
Ryu led by as five strokes early on Sunday. But as her putter went cold, Canada's Henderson unleashed major fireworks, going eagle-ace on Nos. 7 and 8 to cut the lead to one stroke as Ryu made bogey.
Iwai opened with a bogey on the first hole and a double on the third but gutted it out to give herself a chance. Back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 gave her a share of the lead at 18 under. After Henderson birdied the par-3 16th, it was three tied at the top.
A shocking three-putt from Henderson on the 17th put her one back of Iwai and Ryu with only the 461-yard par-5 left to play. After Iwai and Ryu hit their tee shots left and were forced to lay up, Henderson hit the green in two from 172 yards, setting up an eagle putt that was similar to the putt she made to win the Evian in 2022.
On the first playoff hole, the roles were reversed as Henderson missed it left off the tee and Ryu had 167 yards in for her second shot from the fairway. On-course reporter Alison Whitaker said she was looking at David and Goliath, with 94 yards separating the two players off the tee.
Henderson laid up to 117 yards and then pulled her 48-degree wedge long and off the green. Though she had chipped in so many times all week, she couldn't summon the magic on last time. Ryu two-putted for birdie, knocking in a testy putt from just inside 3 feet to take the take the title.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Haeran Ryu beats Brooke Henderson in playoff at Evian for second major win
Continue reading...
