Haeran Ryu Wins First Major Title at Women’s PGA Championship

Haeran Ryu triumphed at Hazeltine National Golf Club, winning the Women’s PGA Championship with a two-stroke lead over Ina Yoon. Despite a challenging start, Ryu shot a 2-under 70 to conclude at 13-under 275, securing her first major career title. Celebrating with friends, Ryu became the sixth South Korean to win this tournament in the last 12 editions.

Ryu, the 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, achieved a remarkable comeback. She overcame a 10-plus shot deficit after starting the first round with a 73, tying for 70th place, while Yoon shot a tournament-record 63. Ryu, playing her first event in six weeks, received crucial advice from her coach, which helped her focus and advance.

“You don’t have another problem so just trust your shot and trust your caddie and trust yourself on the golf course,” she mentioned during the trophy ceremony.

Brooke Henderson and Dewi Weber finished tied for third at 10 under. Americans Allisen Corpuz, Auston Kim, and Alison Lee tied for fifth, six strokes behind Ryu.

LPGA Tour leader Nelly Korda faced a challenging weekend, finishing with a 73 and in a four-way tie for eighth. She aimed to become the third player to win the first three majors of the season but fell short.

Weather disruptions added to the day’s challenges, with tee times delayed due to a thunderstorm dropping over an inch of rain. Players had to navigate extra soft greens and gusty winds, making Hazeltine’s long fairways even harder.

At the end of two rounds, Ryu was five strokes behind Yoon, sharing second place in a four-way tie. She surged to the top on Saturday and led entering the final round.

Ryu overcame a rough start, bogeying three of her first five holes, then excelled on the greens in regulation. Her strong ball-striking helped her achieve 4 under over the last 12 holes, distinguishing her from the competition.

Dewi Weber achieved a notable milestone as the fourth female player from the Netherlands to finish in the top 20 at a major tournament.

Ina Yoon managed her best finish on the LPGA Tour. Despite setbacks on Saturday and a double bogey on Sunday’s third hole, Yoon found valuable lessons in the experience. She stated, “Little disappointed yesterday and today, but I think I did pretty good job being under pressure and it’s just part of golf.”

Korda continues to eye future majors, including the Evian Championship and Women’s British Open next month. Despite difficulties at Hazeltine, she remains optimistic about adding to her overall season success.

Reflecting on her performance, Korda noted, “I was just thinking about the way that I played, not like the realistic big picture that everyone is talking about.”

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