HaeRan Ryu defeated Brooke Henderson in a playoff on Sunday to win the Amundi Evian Championship [1].
The victory marks a rare feat of dominance in women's professional golf. Ryu is now the second golfer to win back-to-back LPGA majors during this season, according to David Stick of MSN Sports [3].
The championship concluded with a high-stakes tiebreaker after both players finished the regulation rounds level. Ryu secured the title by sinking a birdie on the first playoff hole [1]. This result came despite a powerful finish from Henderson, who shot a 7-under 64 in the final round [4].
Throughout the final day, Ryu struggled with consistency on the greens. A Golfweek reporter said, "Haeran Ryu spent most of Sunday asking for one putt to fall. When her second consecutive major depended on it, the answer came twice on the same green" [5].
Henderson entered the final stretch with a strong chance to claim her third career major championship. However, her charge fell just short after the playoff loss, a Sportsnet reporter said [2]. The drama peaked on the first playoff hole, where Ryu's birdie overcame an eagle from Henderson [6].
The win cements Ryu's status as a top contender on the tour this year. By clinching the Evian trophy, she maintains a momentum rarely seen in the major circuit, where consistency across different courses and conditions is the primary challenge.
“Ryu becomes the second golfer to go back-to-back at LPGA majors this season”
Ryu's consecutive major victories signal a shift in the LPGA power dynamic for the 2026 season. While Henderson remains a top-tier competitor capable of elite final-round scoring, Ryu's ability to execute under maximum pressure in playoff conditions demonstrates a psychological edge that often separates champions from runners-up in major tournaments.
