​The Evian Championship’s third round sent Haeran Ryu’s name to the forefront as she fired a stunning 11-under 60, the lowest round ever recorded in a major championship. The South Korean star surged into contention in the east of France, moving to 19-under for the tournament and opening up a three-shot advantage at the head of the field. Ryu, who sits at world number seven, appears to be in prime form as she eyes back-to-back major titles after winning the Women’s PGA Championship last month.
Close on her heels is Akie Iwai of Japan, who trailed the leader by three strokes after an impressive display. Iwai’s compatriot Mao Saigo sits four behind Ryu, tied with Canada’s Brooke Henderson, both at 12-under par. Henderson’s round kept her firmly in the mix as the Evian field narrows toward the final day.
Lottie Woad, England, had briefly led on day two and still stood within reach after the third round, but a 1-over 72 on Saturday dropped her into a tie for sixth, nine behind the pace. Woad’s promising position has become more precarious after Ryu’s surge, yet the 22-year-old remains an important figure for English golf as she eyes a major breakthrough of her own.
Ryu nearly flirted with a sub-60 score, finishing with a 60 that could have been even more remarkable. Her closing stretch was extraordinary: nine birdies and an eagle on the par-four sixth helped power her to the record-setting round. She did not realize how close she had come to breaking 60 until after her 30-foot eagle attempt on the final hole narrowly slid past the cup, leaving her with a final mark of 11-under for the day. “After the putt, I counted my score with my caddie… ‘Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today.’ It was so amazing. I’m so happy right now,” she said, still buzzing from the historic performance.
Ryu’s performance eclipsed other notable rounds in the field’s history, eclipsing previous Evian record scores set by Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, Jeong-eun Lee6, and Leona Maguire in 2021, all of whom posted 61s on this famous course. With nine birdies and the eagle on the sixth hole contributing to an unforgettable day, Ryu’s record round marks a defining moment in major championship lore.
The Evian Championship this year stands as the fourth major on the calendar out of five in women’s golf. Ryu’s latest triumph would mark her second major victory inside a three-week span, following her Minnesota victory at the Women’s PGA Championship. “Yeah, that is an amazing dream,” she remarked. “I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day and Akie is a pretty good player. Everybody is so good.” Her confidence and form remain high, even as she contends with a strong field and a challenging course.
Iwai continued to chase on the back of eight birdies against two bogeys, keeping herself in the hunt for a maiden major triumph. Henderson’s Saturday round, which included eagles on the seventh and 15th holes, showcased her dangerous form and underscored how quickly the leaderboard can shift as the tournament moves toward its conclusion.
In addition to the leading trio, the leaderboard also features other strong performances, with selected contenders hovering within striking distance. Among them, C. Gainer of England sits eight under, while C. Hull of England and L. Ko of New Zealand are at six under. J. Ewart of England remains at five under, and a group of notable players—H. J. Kim of Korea and R. Yin of China—are at two under and one under respectively, with S. Y. Kim of Korea just one under.
As day four approaches, the stage is set for a dramatic finish in this major championship, with Ryu’s record round ensuring she enters Sunday with the momentum and confidence that could carry her to a second major title in three weeks. The question now is whether anyone can mount a serious challenge to her, or if she can maintain the extraordinary form that carried her to the record books on this memorable Saturday. With Iwai, Saigo, and Henderson all in pursuit, the Evian Championship promises a thrilling conclusion as it crowns a new major champion in women’s golf.