​The summer of Haeran Ryu continues her impressive run. Ryu captured her second consecutive major title on Sunday at The Amundi Evian Championship, edging Brooke Henderson with a birdie on the first playoff hole. The finish was nothing short of stunning, set against the picturesque backdrop of Evian-les-Bains, France, where Ryu, Henderson, and Aki Iwai finished the round tied at 18 under with two holes to play and the potential for a three-person playoff looming.
Henderson briefly dipped to 17 under after a bogey on the par-4 17th, but with a par-5 remaining, the Canadian star still had a real chance. Her momentum earlier in the week included four eagles on Evian Resort Golf Club’s par 5s and a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth in the final round. By comparison, Ryu’s pace had been steadier, following her historic 60 on Saturday—the lowest score ever recorded in an LPGA major. On Sunday afternoon, her round featured mostly pars, with only a bogey on the eighth blemishing the day as the field approached the closing 18th hole.
As the group reached 18, Henderson surged forward again, netting an eagle to climb to 19 under, while Ryu managed to find her footing on the greens, dialling in her putter just in time to match that score and force the playoff. Iwai, meanwhile, tried to cling to the final moments—carding pars over the last three holes—but his bid fell just short, leaving him to watch the drama from the clubhouse as Lydia Ko, a three-time major champion, offered words of consolation after Iwai spoke with reporters.
Henderson and Ryu then stepped back onto 18 for the sudden-death playoff. The tee shots revealed a stark contrast: Henderson missed the fairway, while Ryu found hers, giving herself a prime opportunity for an eagle. Henderson showed flashes of her magic with the putter and a few clutch chips earlier in the week, but she couldn’t recreate that magic when her approach just barely missed the green, leaving her with an up-and-down for par. Ryu, however, landed on the green in decent shape and was able to convert with a two-putt for birdie, sealing her second birdie of the day and the championship.
Ryu’s victory underscores the momentum she has built this season. With this second major in her pocket, she cements her status as one of the standout players on the LPGA Tour, continuing a summer that has already featured breakthrough moments and record-breaking rounds. Henderson, still chasing her own major success with two majors to her name, demonstrated the resilience and edge that have kept her in contention throughout the week, but the playoff format ultimately tipped in Ryu’s favor. As the Evian Championship closes, fans and competitors alike will be left reflecting on a final stretch that delivered drama, precision, and a thrilling finish to one of golf’s premier majors.