Kim Hyo-joo (30) finished as the runner-up after a playoff at the first major tournament of the U.S. LPGA Tour season. The victory went to Mao Saigo (24, Japan).
On the 28th, Mao Saigo (center), who won the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, is jumping into the pond next to the 18th hole green with officials, according to the tournament tradition./AFP Yonhap News On the 28th, Mao Saigo (center), who won the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, is jumping into the pond next to the 18th hole green with officials, according to the tournament tradition./AFP Yonhap News Kim Hyo-joo started the final round of the Chevron Championship (total prize money of $8 million), the first major of the season held at The Club at Carlton Woods (par 72, 6,837 yards) in Texas, USA, on the 28th, in a tie for 11th place, four strokes behind the leaders. With 3 birdies and 1 bogey, Kim Hyo-joo carded a final score of 7-under-par 281, tying with In Gee Chun (23, China), Ariya Jutanugarn (30, Thailand), Lindy Duncan (34, USA), and Saigo. This marked the most players ever to join a playoff in an LPGA Tour major tournament.
In the first playoff hole, played on the 18th hole (par 5, 472 yards), Kim Hyo-joo, In Gee Chun, and Jutanugarn all made par, while Duncan bogeyed. Saigo, who uniquely birdied the hole after her chip shot landed approximately 90cm from the cup, achieved her first LPGA Tour victory in a major tournament. Kim Hyo-joo's third shot landed on the green, but her approximately 4-meter birdie putt missed. Kim Hyo-joo, who won the Ford Championship last month, narrowly missed the opportunity to add a major title for the first time in 11 years since the 2014 Evian Championship.
Kim Hyo-joo (right) is playing in the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship playoff on the 18th hole at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, on the 28th. On the left is In Gee Chun, one of the five players who joined the playoff./AFP Yonhap News Kim Hyo-joo (right) is playing in the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship playoff on the 18th hole at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, on the 28th. On the left is In Gee Chun, one of the five players who joined the playoff./AFP Yonhap News The day's competition remained unpredictable until the very end. While Saigo and Ryu Hae-ran (24), who started the final round in a tie for the lead by one stroke, struggled, Jutanugarn surged into the lead by making an eagle and two birdies through the 8th hole (par 5). Although Jutanugarn bogeyed the 9th (par 4) and 13th (par 5) holes, she maintained a one-stroke solo lead heading into the 18th hole. A par on this hole would have virtually secured her victory. Jutanugarn, with 12 career LPGA Tour wins, has not won since 2021, a drought of approximately four years.
However, a significant mistake occurred on the 18th hole when she failed to get her ball out of the rough around the green on the first attempt. Her chip shot was poorly executed, barely moving the ball. Jutanugarn's fourth shot landed on the green, and she bogeyed with a two-putt, forcing a playoff. In the playoff, Jutanugarn missed a birdie as her putt lipped out. In Gee Chun, who had an eagle opportunity after a two-on, also missed her approximately 4.5-meter eagle putt, followed by an approximately 1.8-meter birdie putt that circled the hole, resulting in a par.
Ariya Jutanugarn hits her tee shot on the 2nd hole of the final round of the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, on the 28th./AP Yonhap News Ariya Jutanugarn hits her tee shot on the 2nd hole of the final round of the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, USA, on the 28th./AP Yonhap News Ultimately, the victory went to Saigo, who barely made it into the playoff by sinking an approximately 3-meter birdie putt on the 18th hole of the final round. The winner's prize money is $1.2 million (approximately 1.7 billion Korean Won). Saigo, the first Japanese player to win this tournament, jumped into the pond next to the 18th green according to the tournament tradition. Saigo, who recorded a total of six wins on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour in 2022-2023, debuted on the LPGA Tour last year, finishing as runner-up twice and earning the Rookie of the Year award.
Ryu Hae-ran struggled with one birdie and seven bogeys through the 17th hole but finished with a chip-in eagle on the 18th, tying for 6th place (5-under-par) with Ko Jin-young (30). Choi Hye-jin (26) finished in a tie for 9th place (4-under-par), while defending champion and world No. 1 Nelly Korda (27, USA) tied for 14th place (2-over-par), and Yun Ji-na (22) and Lydia Ko (28, New Zealand) tied for 52nd place (5-over-par).
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