Mao Saigo of Japan wins the Chevron
Championship with a birdie in a 5-way playoff
[April 28, 2025]
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) — Mao Saigo was shaking with nervousness
before her birdie putt on the first hole of a five-way playoff
Sunday in the Chevron Championship.
The 23-year-old Japanese player managed to compose herself in time
to sink the 3-footer and win her first major title.
“I did my best to calm down and I shot and it went in,” she said in
Japanese through a translator.
Saigo birdied the par-5 18th in regulation for a 2-under 74, leaving
her tied with Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn and Lindy
Duncan. They finished at 7-under 281 at The Club at Carlton Woods.
Saigo won on the 18th in the playoff after Yin and Jutanugarn had
birdie tries lip out. Jutanugarn bogeyed the 18th in regulation
after stubbing her third shot only inches.
Jutanugarn led for most of the final round before her late gaffe
after making two birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
“The front nine was very solid especially with the eagle, but back
nine just couple mistakes on par 5 that I made; two bogeys,” she
said.
Yin was in the best position in the playoff after getting onto the
green in two shots. But she missed a 12-foot eagle putt and her
comebacker for birdie lipped out to set up Saigo for the win.
Saigo won for the first time on the LPGA Tour. She was the tour’s
rookie of the year last season. She's the first Japanese winner in
the event and the fifth major champion. She has six victories on the
Japanese tour, five in 2022.
The victory comes after runner-up finishes at the CPKC Women’s Open
and Buick LPGA Shanghai last year.
“Last year it was a very intense competition,” she said. “I was so
close but I was not able to make it. It was very disappointing. This
year I was able to win and earn the LPGA title and I’m extremely
excited about this.”
The 34-year-old Duncan bogeyed the playoff hole to come up short in
her more than a decade-long quest to win her first title. But she
was still happy with her performance overall.
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Mao Saigo, of Japan, holds the trophy after winning the Chevron
Championship LPGA golf tournament Sunday, April 27, 2025, in The
Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
“Yeah, top five in a major, any week, is unbelievable; to have a
chance, feeling the nerves,” she said. “And I feel like I have some
things to learn about how to handle my swing and things like that.
I’ll reflect on it (but) yeah, but what a week.”
It’s the second time in three years that the tournament ended in a
playoff after American Lilia Vu birdied the first extra hole to win
in 2023.
Saigo took home $1.2 million from the $8 million purse.
Winners had been jumping into Poppie’s Pond off the 18th green at
Mission Hills since 1988, and Saigo became the third to do it in
Texas by leaping into the brown-tinged water. She shrieked and
smiled as she went in holding hands with two members of her team.
The experience ended up being a bit harrowing for Saigo who said she
isn't a very good swimmer.
“When I went inside it was deep and at first I thought I was going
to drown," she said.
Saigo entered the day tied with Haeran Ryu at 9 under. But she
bogeyed five holes Sunday to fall behind before her birdie on the
18th hole got her a spot in the playoff to set up the thrilling
finish.
Top-ranked Nelly Korda shot 70 to tie for 14th at 2 under. Winless
this season, she won the event last year for the last of her
record-tying five straight victories.
“Obviously, I have a lot to work on,” she said. “Last year was last
year. Such an amazing year but it’s in the past. It’s not going to
help me with my future.”
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