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Haeran Ryu continued her incredible summer run on Sunday. She won her second straight major title at the Amundi Evian Championship. The South Korean star defeated Canadian favorite Brooke Henderson in a dramatic playoff. This victory cemented Ryu’s status as the hottest player in women’s golf.
Evian-les-Bains, France, provided a beautiful backdrop for the final round. The tournament delivered intense drama down the stretch. Three players battled for the trophy until the final hole. Ryu, Henderson, and Aki Iwai all pushed each other to their limits.
A Dramatic Three-Way Battle
The leaderboard tightened significantly during the final few holes. With only two holes remaining, the trio sat tied at 18 under par. Fans anticipated a rare three-person sudden-death playoff.
However, Henderson hit a rough patch on the par-4 17th hole. She carded a costly bogey and dropped to 17 under par. Despite this setback, the Canadian golfer refused to quit. She still had the par-5 18th hole left to play.
Henderson possessed incredible momentum on the par-5 holes all week. In fact, she recorded four eagles on the par 5s during the tournament. She also thrilled the crowd with a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth hole during Sunday’s final round. Therefore, no one counted her out.
The Historic Saturday Surge
Ryu entered Sunday after an historic performance on Saturday. She shot a sensational round of 60 during the third round. This mark set the record for the lowest score in LPGA major history.
In contrast, Sunday proved much more mundane for the champion. Ryu played steady but quiet golf for most of the afternoon. She recorded pars on almost every single hole. Her only mistake before the final hole was a lone bogey on the eighth.
Heartbreak and Triumphs on 18
The tournament reached a thrilling climax on the 18th hole. Henderson surged back into contention with another brilliant eagle. This spectacular shot moved her score to 19 under par.
Ryu responded to the pressure immediately. She finally dialed in her putter when it mattered most. Her birdie on the last hole allowed her to match Henderson at 19 under par.
Unfortunately, Iwai fell just short of the playoff. The 24-year-old Japanese player carded three straight pars to finish the round. She missed the extra holes in heartbreaking fashion. Afterward, three-time major champion Lydia Ko kindly consoled the emotional Iwai.
A Thrilling Playoff Finish
The drama escalated as Henderson and Ryu returned to the 18th tee. Henderson previously won this event in 2022. She sought her third career major title. Ryu wanted to continue her dominant summer streak.
The players reversed their previous roles off the tee. This time, Henderson missed the fairway completely. Ryu hit a perfect drive right down the middle. This shot put Ryu in a great position for a potential eagle.
Henderson showed incredible chipping skills all week. Sadly, she could not recreate that magic on the playoff hole. Her approach shot landed just off the green. She scrambled well but only managed a par.
Meanwhile, Ryu struck a solid approach shot onto the green. She faced a very long putt for eagle. She safely secured a two-putt birdie instead. This final birdie secured the prestigious championship for Ryu.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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