EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) 鈥� A second major title in a three-week stretch. The 鈥� an 11-under 60 鈥� in an LPGA major.
It was quite the weekend at the Evian Championship for Haeran Ryu, the latest South Korean sensation in women鈥檚 golf.
Ryu, the winner of the 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.
鈥淭his,” said the 25-year-old Ryu, drenched in Champagne and cradling the trophy in her left arm, 鈥渋s just a dream right now.鈥�
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 鈥� a two-time major winner and 鈥� 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.
鈥淚t was so tough today because my putt always missed the cup,鈥� Ryu said. “Just made the one birdie on the last hole.
鈥淏efore these three weeks,” she added, “I didn鈥檛 have a major championship 鈥� now two in a row. I am so happy, I can鈥檛 believe it.鈥�
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 鈥� the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women鈥檚 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.
鈥淥bviously very exciting to get into the playoff,鈥� the 28-year-old Canadian said. 鈥淲ish I had played a little bit better, but Haeran has been playing great. Congrats to her.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 got a little confidence,” she said, fighting back tears. “I never give up.鈥�
The year’s final major 鈥� the Women’s British Open 鈥� is at Royal Lytham & St. Annes starting July 30.
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