Haeran Ryu beats Brooke Henderson
in playoff to win Evian Championship for 2nd straight major title
[July 13, 2026]
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — A second major title in a
three-week stretch. The lowest round — an 11-under 60 — in an LPGA
major.
It was quite the weekend at the Evian Championship for Haeran Ryu,
the latest South Korean sensation in women’s golf.
Ryu, the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine on June
29, gave up a three-shot overnight lead, birdied No. 18 to make a
playoff, and beat Brooke Henderson on the first extra hole Sunday to
win the fourth women's major of the year.
“This," said the 25-year-old Ryu, drenched in Champagne and cradling
the trophy in her left arm, “is just a dream right now.”
A day after rolling in nine birdies and an eagle to set the scoring
record for women's majors, Ryu couldn't make a putt at Evian Golf
Resort and found herself teeing off on the par-5 18th without a
birdie on her card and in a tie for the lead with Japanese golfer
Aki Iwai. Henderson — a two-time major winner and 2022 Evian
champion — was a shot back and on a charge after back-to-back
front-nine eagles, including a hole-in-one.
With Henderson hitting her second shot to 8 feet at the last, Ryu
needed an elusive birdie from further out to ensure being in a
playoff.
A putt finally dropped to complete her level-par 71, Iwai missed her
birdie putt to fall out of contention and Henderson curled in for
eagle and a 64 to take the championships to extra holes on a
gorgeous day beside the Lake Geneva in the Alps.
Ryu and Henderson, who were tied on 19-under par for the week, went
back up No. 18 in separate golf carts. Ryu found the middle of the
fairway, while Henderson drove left into the rough and had to lay
up.
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Ryu hit her second onto the green and left an eagle
putt 3 feet short. That proved to be the distance needed for the win
after Henderson could only make par, and Ryu made no mistake.
“It was so tough today because my putt always missed the cup,” Ryu
said. "Just made the one birdie on the last hole.
“Before these three weeks," she added, "I didn’t
have a major championship — now two in a row. I am so happy, I can’t
believe it.”
For the first time in women's golf, there have been double major
winners in the same year.
No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda won the first two of 2026 — the Chevron
Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.
Henderson was looking to be the first repeat winner of the Evian
Championship since it became women's golf's fifth major in 2013.
“Obviously very exciting to get into the playoff,” the 28-year-old
Canadian said. “Wish I had played a little bit better, but Haeran
has been playing great. Congrats to her.”
Iwai wept as she fell short of winning her first major title and
becoming the fifth major champion from Japan since the start of
2024.
Still, third place was her best finish in a major.
“I got a little confidence," she said, fighting back tears. "I never
give up.”
The year's final major — the Women's British Open — is at Royal
Lytham & St. Annes starting July 30.
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