10 Strokes Down In Round One, Now A Major Champ: Ryu Hae-ran Did The Impossible, And Nelly Korda Is Stunned
HOLY SMOKES, did you guys see what went down at the Women's PGA Championship?! Ryu Hae-ran, who was a full TEN strokes back after the opening round, absolutely stormed back to snatch her first major title! This isn't just a win, it's an all-time comeback story from Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. She closed out the final round with a two-under par 70, netting her a two-stroke triumph over her compatriot Yoon Ina, and leaving everyone, especially world number one Nelly Korda, wondering what hit them! Ryu finished at an incredible 13-under par 275, pure grit and determination.
The Putter Change That Blew Up The Course
Seriously, this is the kind of fire we love to see from an athlete. Remember that opening round? Ryu struggled, posted a 73, and was staring up at a 10-stroke deficit. It looked bleak, right? But she made a crucial move, changed her putter after that dismal start, and from there, it was a totally different game, a masterclass on the greens. She said it felt like a "dream come true." She was absolutely dialed-in, sinking crucial 14-foot birdie putts at the 10th and 12th, then draining a clutch seven-foot par putt at the 16th. That composed performance kept her pursuers at bay. After opening the final day with just a one-shot lead over Brooke Henderson, she kept it together through a chaotic front nine and never faltered, proving she was built for this moment.
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Korda's Collapse and The Challengers' Wild Ride
While Ryu was busy making history, the rest of the field was fighting, but couldn't quite catch her. Nelly Korda, the world number one gunning for her third straight major, just couldn't find her rhythm, finishing tied for eighth with a one-over par final round. Korda started with a three-putt bogey at the first, fought back, but bogeys at the 12th and a brutal double bogey at the 16th sealed her fate. She told reporters she was just disappointed with her play, not missing out on the record, which you gotta respect. Our girl Yoon Ina actually had a five-shot lead at the halfway point, then closed with a two-under 70, snagging solo second thanks to a birdie on the 72nd hole. Even Dewi Weber briefly grabbed the solo lead with an eight-foot eagle at the seventh before a three-putt bogey took it away. It was a wild ride on an imposing course, soaked by over an inch of rain, delaying the start for three and a half hours, adding to the sheer drama!
What an absolute performance from Ryu Hae-ran, collecting a massive $1.95 million winner's prize from a record women's golf purse of $13 million! Yoon's solo second was good for $1.169 million. This was Ryu's first tournament back since taking over a month off for what she called a "tiny, minor surgery," proving that sometimes a break is exactly what you need to come back stronger. With this kind of fire and resilience, and already making huge statements early in the season, you know this isn't the last we'll hear from her. We're on the edge of our seats waiting to see what she does next!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.