Three weeks ago, Haeran Ryu had never won a major golf tournament. Now she has two of them. The South Korean golfer claimed her second women's major title in just 14 days on Sunday, defeating Canada's Brooke Henderson in a sudden-death playoff at the Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France.
The 24-year-old's victory is even more extraordinary when you consider she missed the cut at this same tournament just 12 months ago. "This is just a dream right now," Ryu said after her win. "Before three weeks ago, I don't have a major championship, but now two in a row."
The drama unfolded on the final holes. Ryu had made history on Saturday, firing an 11-under-par 60 — one of the best rounds in major championship history — to take a three-shot lead into Sunday. She held that lead throughout much of the final round, but Canada's Brooke Henderson, who started the day seven strokes behind, wasn't giving up. Henderson carded a stunning 64 with three eagles, forcing a playoff by sinking her third eagle of the day on the 18th hole.
On the first extra hole, Henderson's tee shot drifted left, forcing her to lay up. Ryu took advantage, making a birdie while Henderson could only manage a par. The win was worth $1.4 million to Ryu.
"A lot of great names are on the trophy, and I'm so happy that my name is on here," Ryu said.
Her recent success puts her in rare company. Along with world number one Nelly Korda, Ryu is one of just two players to have won all four of the women's major championships this season. Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open earlier in the year.
Japanese player Aki Iwai came close to becoming a first-time major winner, sharing the lead with Ryu heading down the 18th before a missed birdie putt dropped her to third place. Ryu's compatriots Miyu Yamashita and Mao Saigo finished three shots further back, alongside South Korea's Jin-Hee Im.