Haeran Ryu overcame a challenging start to secure her first career major title, clinching victory at the Women’s PGA Championship by two strokes over Ina Yoon at Hazeltine National Golf Club. On a gusty Sunday, Ryu shot a solid 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275, becoming the sixth South Korean to win the event in the past 12 editions.
Ryu’s triumph was marked by celebration as she sank her final putt, with friends rushing to congratulate her. The 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the first major champion in at least 60 years to recover from a 10-plus-shot deficit after the first round. She initially struggled with a 73 on Thursday, tying for 70th place, while Yoon impressed with a tournament-record 63.
Ryu, playing her first event in six weeks, addressed her early struggles with sound advice from her coach. During the trophy ceremony, she shared, “You don’t have another problem, so just trust your shot and trust your caddie and trust yourself on the golf course.” Brooke Henderson and Dewi Weber tied for third at 10-under, while three Americans—Allisen Corpuz, Auston Kim, and Alison Lee—tied for fifth, six strokes behind Ryu.
Yoon praised Ryu’s performance, saying, “Haeran played unbelievable today.” She also expressed admiration for Brooke Henderson, stating, “I like to play her, play with her all the time. She’s such a nice girl. I learned a lot today, this week.”
Despite a frustrating weekend, LPGA Tour leader Nelly Korda finished with a 73, tying for eighth place. She missed out on becoming the third player to win the first three majors of the season. Players faced delays as a thunderstorm hit the Twin Cities metro area, halting play for 3 1/2 hours with over an inch of rain. The softened greens and gusty conditions added difficulty to Hazeltine’s long fairways.
Ryu managed to rise from five strokes behind Yoon in a tie for second after two rounds. She surged ahead on Saturday, entering the final round with a one-shot lead over Henderson, a position she has held three times in major championships. Despite bogeying early holes, Ryu displayed skill in her ball-striking, ranked in the top three for approach, tee to green, and greens in regulation on the tour. She finished four-under over the last 12 holes for a comfortable win.
Weber achieved an honorable finish, being one of only four women from the Netherlands to end in the top 20 at a major tournament, joining Anne van Dam’s record at the 2024 British Women’s Open. Yoon, 23, achieved her best LPGA Tour finish, rebounding from setbacks with a positive outlook. “Little disappointed yesterday and today, but I think I did pretty good job being under pressure and it’s just part of golf,” Yoon reflected.
Korda, with eyes on future majors, made the turn three shots back and birdied the 10th hole. However, her short game struggled later, including five three-putts at Hazeltine. The 16th hole posed a significant challenge, impacting her overall performance. With upcoming tournaments such as the Evian Championship and Women’s British Open, Korda remains optimistic despite setbacks. “I was just thinking about the way that I played,” Korda said, “not like the realistic big picture that everyone is talking about.”