Evian Championship: Haeran Ryu holds off surging Brooke Henderson in play-off to claim second successive major

Haeran Ryu held off a spirited fightback from Brooke Henderson to win her second consecutive major title at the Amundi Evian Championship after a dramatic play-off.

Ryu made history by shooting the lowest round in a men's or women's major championship by carding 60 on Saturday and followed that up with a composed performance to hold off the charging Canadian on Sunday.

The South Korean, who won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine last month, finished 20-under par for the tournament, after recording just two birdies on Sunday – on the 18th and on the first play-off hole to claim victory.

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Henderson erased a seven-shot deficit to force a play-off, but a wayward tee shot meant she had to lay up, leaving herself just short of the green.

A fine eagle attempt from Ryu left Henderson needing to chip in to extend the play-off. She could not do so, allowing Ryu to roll in the winning birdie putt and claim her second major title in a matter of weeks.

"It was so tough today because my putts were always missing the cup," she said. "I just made one birdie on the last hole.

"I know how important it was, I was so nervous for that putt but I made it and so happy for the last two birdies.

"This is just a dream right now because before this three weeks, I don't have a major championship but I now have two in a row. I'm so happy and I can't believe it right now."

Henderson sizzles on Sunday to set up sumptuous finish

Nobody expected Brooke Henderson to be in the thick of it, given that she started the final round so far adrift.

The 28-year-old signalled her intent from the outset, birdieing the first before picking up four shots in the space of two holes with an eagle at the seventh and a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth to thrust herself firmly into contention.

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Out in 30, she was just one shot behind Ryu at the turn after the leader bogeyed the eighth. But a nervy putt on the 11th dropped her back into a tie with Japan's Aki Iwai on 16 under, two shots off the lead.

Ryu had matched the 60 shots she needed in Saturday's third round by the time she reached the 15th on Sunday, while Iwai birdied the 14th and 15th to draw level.

A wayward drive at the 14th forced Henderson to scramble for par, but she responded with back-to-back birdies to join the leaders on 18 under heading to the 17th tee. A bogey at the penultimate hole, however, left her one shot behind heading to the par-five last.

Both Asian players pulled their tee shots, while Henderson found the middle of the fairway to set up a tense finish, once again showing the mental resilience to respond to a setback.

The Canadian, who won this tournament in 2022, then gave herself a makeable uphill eagle putt to reach 19 under, while Iwai and Ryu each left themselves slightly longer birdie attempts.

Ryu went first and chose the perfect moment to make her first birdie of the day, judging the pace perfectly to hole the putt and finish level par for the round.

Iwai's putt failed to turn and she had to settle for third place overall.

Henderson, needing an eagle, struck her putt firmly and watched it drop to force a play-off, where her remarkable fightback ultimately fell just short.

Woad and Hull fail to fulfil promise as Ko and Nordqvist shine

Further back, England's Lottie Woad - who held the lead heading into the weekend before rounds of 72 and 73 - finished the tournament eight over par.

Compatriot Charley Hull carded a 69 to finish on the same overall score as both players tied for 16th.

Just behind the leading trio, Japan's Mao Saigo eagled the 18th, while compatriot Miyu Yamashita birdied each of the final three holes as the pair finished tied for fourth on 15 under alongside South Korea's Jin Hee Im.

Three-time major winner and former world No 1 Lydia Ko, who won this tournament 11 years ago, followed three rounds of 69 with a seven-birdie display on Sunday to claim seventh place outright on 13-under par, alongside Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist.

The Swede carded five birdies in a bogey-free Sunday to finish as the top European player and secure her best finish in a major in three years.

Watch live coverage of all major championships, including the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham from July 29 to August 2, on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.