​Ryu Hae-ran positioned herself for a second major win of the season as she sprinted to a spectacular third-round 60 on Saturday, grabbing a two-stroke lead at the Evian Championship. Akie Iwai of Japan fired a 65 to seize sole possession of second place, four ahead of compatriot Mao Saigo, who posted a 67, and Canadian Brooke Henderson, who carded a 64. Overnight leader Lottie Woad finished with a 1-over 72, dropping into a tie for sixth and nine shots behind the pace.
Ryu opened the round with an eagle on the sixth hole and added her ninth birdie of the day on the final hole, where she two-putted for a closing score of 60. She admitted she hadn’t realized, while stepping up to her first putt on the final green, that she could shoot 59. “I never know because I don’t know here is par 71. That’s why I just hit it,” she explained. “But after the putt and when I counted my score with my caddie, ‘Oh, my God, it’s 11-under par today!’ My caddie says ‘yep!’ I’m so happy right now.”
The 25-year-old champion already has a major under her belt, having won the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine in June, which she says transformed her outlook. “I really wanted to win the major championships, but before I got that one it was so stressful,” she said. “Now I can enjoy golf more. When we first started this tournament, I said my goal was just to make the weekend. That’s it. It feels like a dream again.”
Ryu’s playing partners, Iwai and Dodd, sang her praises. “She’s on fire,” Iwai commented, while Woad, who had played with Ryu through the first two rounds, called her “fun to watch.” Iwai added that she was determined to bounce back after missing the cut last year. “I want revenge,” she said. “Really optimistic for tomorrow. I’ll just keep going.”