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07/12 12:41 CDT Haeran Ryu beats Brooke Henderson in playoff to win Evian
Championship for 2nd straight major title
Haeran Ryu beats Brooke Henderson in playoff to win Evian Championship for 2nd
straight major title
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) --- A second major title in a three-week stretch.
The lowest round --- an 11-under 60 --- in an LPGA major.
It was quite the weekend at the Evian Championship for Haeran Ryu, the latest
South Korean sensation in women's golf.
Ryu, the winner of the Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine on June 29, gave
up a three-shot overnight lead, birdied No. 18 to make a playoff, and beat
Brooke Henderson on the first extra hole Sunday to win the fourth women's major
of the year.
"This," said the 25-year-old Ryu, drenched in Champagne and cradling the trophy
in her left arm, "is just a dream right now."
A day after rolling in nine birdies and an eagle to set the scoring record for
women's majors, Ryu couldn't make a putt at Evian Golf Resort and found herself
teeing off on the par-5 18th without a birdie on her card and in a tie for the
lead with Japanese golfer Aki Iwai. Henderson --- a two-time major winner and
2022 Evian champion --- was a shot back and on a charge after back-to-back
front-nine eagles, including a hole-in-one.
With Henderson hitting her second shot to 8 feet at the last, Ryu needed an
elusive birdie from further out to ensure being in a playoff.
A putt finally dropped to complete her level-par 71, Iwai missed her birdie
putt to fall out of contention and Henderson curled in for eagle and a 64 to
take the championships to extra holes on a gorgeous day beside the Lake Geneva
in the Alps.
Ryu and Henderson, who were tied on 19-under par for the week, went back up No.
18 in separate golf carts. Ryu found the middle of the fairway, while Henderson
drove left into the rough and had to lay up.
Ryu hit her second onto the green and left an eagle putt 3 feet short. That
proved to be the distance needed for the win after Henderson could only make
par, and Ryu made no mistake.
"It was so tough today because my putt always missed the cup," Ryu said. "Just
made the one birdie on the last hole.
"Before these three weeks," she added, "I didn't have a major championship ---
now two in a row. I am so happy, I can't believe it."
For the first time in women's golf, there have been double major winners in the
same year.
No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda won the first two of 2026 --- the Chevron Championship
and the U.S. Women's Open.
Henderson was looking to be the first repeat winner of the Evian Championship
since it became women's golf's fifth major in 2013.
"Obviously very exciting to get into the playoff," the 28-year-old Canadian
said. "Wish I had played a little bit better, but Haeran has been playing
great. Congrats to her."
Iwai wept as she fell short of winning her first major title and becoming the
fifth major champion from Japan since the start of 2024.
Still, third place was her best finish in a major.
"I got a little confidence," she said, fighting back tears. "I never give up."
The year's final major --- the Women's British Open --- is at Royal Lytham &
St. Annes starting July 30.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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