Yoo Haeran Clinches Playoff Victory with Birdie... Charges to Back-to-Back Major Titles (Comprehensive)

Yoo Hae-ran Captures Amundi Evian Championship Title

Back-to-Back Major Wins Following KPMG Women’s PGA

Henderson Finishes Second, Iwai Third, Lim Fourth

Yoo Hae-ran has achieved back-to-back major victories.

On July 12 (KST), at the Evian Resort Golf Club (par 71, 6,479 yards) in Evian-les-Bains, France, during the fourth round of the Amundi Evian Championship—the fourth major of the 2026 LPGA Tour season with a total prize fund of $9.1 million—she was unable to improve her score, allowing Brooke Henderson (Canada) to tie at 19-under-par 265. However, in the first playoff hole at the par-5 18th, Yoo clinched victory with a birdie.

Three weeks earlier, Yoo won the third major tournament of the season, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, setting a remarkable record by winning majors consecutively. This marks the first time in seven years that a Korean player has won two or more majors in a single season since Jin Young Ko in 2019. For Yoo, this is her second win of the season and fifth career title, with the winner’s prize amounting to $1.4 million (about 2.1 billion won).

Yoo Hae-ran is teeing off at the 5th hole during the 4th round of the Amundi Evian Championship. Evian=AP Yonhap News

Six Korean players have now won this tournament: Shin Ji-ae (2010), Park In-bee (2012), Kim Hyo-joo (2014), Jeon In-ji (2016), and Jin Young Ko (2019), among others. Shin Ji-ae and Park In-bee claimed their victories before the tournament was elevated to major status. This year, with Kim Hyo-joo and Yoo Hae-ran each winning twice, and Lee Mi-hyang adding one win, Korean players have combined for five victories.

On this day, Yoo started as the leader by three strokes, trading one birdie for one bogey. She made par on the first seven holes. After a bogey at the par-3 8th, she scored her first birdie at the final 18th hole. Finishing the round with a one-stroke lead, Yoo was forced into a playoff when Henderson sank an eagle putt at the 18th.

In the first playoff, Yoo sent her tee shot safely to the fairway, reached the green with her second shot, and made a steady two-putt for birdie. In contrast, Henderson’s tee shot landed in the left rough, forcing a layup, and her third shot failed to reach the green, resulting in a par.

In a post-victory interview, Yoo beamed, “My putting wasn’t great today, but I’m very grateful I was able to make the putt on the last hole.” She added, “I never imagined I would win back-to-back majors. I still can’t believe what’s happening right now,” she said with a bright smile.

Brook Henderson is teeing off in the 4th round of the Amundi Evian Championship. Evian=AFP Yonhap News

Henderson started the round tied for third, seven shots behind, but delivered a dramatic performance with three eagles—including a hole-in-one at the par-3 8th—three birdies, and two bogeys. Shooting a 7-under-par 64, Henderson showcased her impressive determination and finished as runner-up. Aki Iwai (Japan) played valiantly, cutting two strokes off her score, but settled for third place at 18-under-par 266, one shot behind.

Among Korean players, Lim Jin-hee carded a 6-under-par 65 to tie for fourth at 15-under-par 269. Miyu Yamashita and Mao Saigo (both from Japan) also tied for fourth, Lydia Ko (New Zealand) finished in a tie for seventh at 13-under-par 271, Lee So-mi tied for tenth at 11-under-par 273, and Yang Hee-young finished fifteenth at 9-under-par 275. World No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA), who was aiming for a career Grand Slam, missed the cut.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.