EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — A second major title in a three-week stretch. The lowest round — an 11-under 60 — in an LPGA major.It was quite the weekend at the Evian Championship for Haeran Ryu, the latest South Korean sensation in women’s golf.Ryu, the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship 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.“This,” said the 25-year-old Ryu, drenched in Champagne and cradling the trophy in her left arm, “is just a dream right now.”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 — a two-time major winner and 2022 Evian champion — 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.
