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

Historic Victory for Haeran Ryu

Chaska (USA), June 29: Haeran Ryu secured her first Major Championship title by finishing the final round with a score of 2-under-par 70 at the Women’s PGA Championship.

With this victory, the South Korean golfer became the seventh player since 1990 to achieve wins in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour. She joins the ranks of notable players such as Karrie Webb, Grace Park, Yani Tseng, Brooke Henderson, Sei Young Kim, and Jin Young Ko.

"It feels like a dream come true right now. I have tried several times to win a major, but today I finally did it, and I am so happy," Ryu expressed. "I had a shorter offseason this year, but I worked hard with my coach in Korea, and it paid off this week. I am grateful to my coach and everyone who supported me."

Ina Yoon, who led after both the first and second rounds, finished in second place with a final score of 2-under-par 70. Meanwhile, Brooke Henderson, aiming for her second Women’s PGA Championship title a decade after her first, ended with an even-par 72, tying for third with Dewi Weber.

Nelly Korda, who made history as the 11th player to win the first two Major Championships of a calendar year, concluded her round with a score of 73. The only players to have won the first three Majors in a single calendar year are Inbee Park and Babe Zaharias.

Ryu's comeback was remarkable, as she started the tournament trailing leader Ina Yoon by 10 strokes after the first round. This marks the largest deficit ever overcome in the opening round to win the Women’s PGA Championship.

The last player to recover from a 10-stroke deficit in any Major Championship was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women's Western Open, where she shot an 83 in the first round, trailing Ruth Jessen, who led with a score of 73.