Ryu Hae-ran secures second consecutive LPGA major title in France
Ryu’s Playoff Victory in Evian-les-Bains
Ryu Hae-ran secured her second consecutive LPGA major title in France, triumphing in a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship. The event took place at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains. Ryu faced Brooke Henderson of Canada in the playoff, ultimately winning on the first extra hole. This victory marks Ryu’s fifth overall LPGA title.
Both Ryu and Henderson concluded 72 holes with a score of 19-under 265. Ryu’s birdie on the first playoff hole sealed her win and earned her a prize of $1.4 million. This achievement follows her maiden LPGA major win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship just two weeks prior.
Ryu, who is ranked world No. 7, is now the first Korean player to achieve back-to-back major titles since Park In-bee accomplished three consecutive wins in 2013. The Evian Championship gained major championship status in 2013, and Ryu is the third Korean since then to win at least two majors in a single season.
Dramatic Final Round and Playoff
Ryu had taken a significant lead earlier in the tournament, shooting an 11-under 60 on Saturday, which stands as the lowest 18-hole score in LPGA major history. This put her at 19-under, three shots ahead of Aki Iwai and seven ahead of Henderson.
Her three-shot lead expanded to five early in the final round. However, the tournament saw a dramatic shift when Henderson recorded an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, followed by a hole-in-one on the subsequent hole, bringing her to 17-under. Ryu, after seven consecutive pars, bogeyed the eighth hole, reducing her lead over Henderson to just one stroke.
Iwai also remained a contender, birdying the ninth hole to reach 16-under. Ryu maintained her lead with pars, and Henderson’s three-putt bogey on the 11th briefly extended Ryu’s advantage to two shots. However, Iwai birdied the 14th and 15th holes, drawing even with Ryu at 18-under.
Henderson then made birdies on the 15th and 16th, creating a three-way tie at the top. With two holes remaining, Ryu had not yet recorded a birdie in the final round. Henderson’s three-putt bogey on the 17th left Ryu and Iwai tied for first as they approached the 18th hole.
On the 18th tee, Henderson was the only one to find the fairway, while Ryu and Iwai had to lay up. Henderson reached the green in two, setting up an eagle putt. After Ryu made her first birdie of the final round and Iwai missed her putt, Henderson sank her eagle attempt, forcing a playoff.
The playoff returned to the 18th hole, where the roles reversed. Ryu found the fairway, and Henderson missed it to the left. Ryu reached the green in two, while Henderson missed the putting surface with her third shot. Ryu’s eagle attempt fell short, but after Henderson’s chip landed shy of the cup, Ryu made her birdie putt to secure the title.
Ryu’s Season and Future
The 25-year-old Ryu was named the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year. She has recorded one victory in each of her first three seasons on the tour and has now won twice this year. Her recent success means that Nelly Korda, who won the first two majors of this year, and Ryu have made it the first time in women’s golf that there have been double major winners in the same year.
The fifth and final major of the season, the AIG Women’s Open, is scheduled to begin on July 30 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Course in Lancashire, England.
Read Also
Source: koreatimes.co.kr
