South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon won her first major title by beating compatriot Seo Hee-kyung by three shots in a three-hole playoff for the weather-delayed US Women’s Open on Monday.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng struggled with the weather and finished in 15th place at six-over.
The 21-year-old Ryu rolled in a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th green, the third extra hole, to complete her maiden LPGA victory before pumping her right fist in delight.
Photo: AFP
She was then soaked in champagne by fellow Korean players and former winners Pak Se-ri and Ji Eun-hee after they ran across the green to join her in joyful celebration at the Broadmoor.
“Unbelievable,” a beaming Ryu said greenside, having become the third youngest US Women’s Open champion after going par-birdie-birdie over the 16th, 17th and 18th holes in the playoff.
“I won KLPGA [Korean LPGA] tournaments six times, but no majors, and now I have won the US Women’s Open. I can’t believe it,” she squealed in delight.
The orange-and-white clad Ryu, who plays most of her golf on her home circuit, became the fifth Korean to win the US Women’s Open after her role model Pak (1998), Birdie Kim (2005), Park In-bee (2008) and Ji (2009).
Only Pak, at 20, and Park, at 19, have won the coveted title at a younger age.
Ryu was especially delighted that Pak and Ji both stayed on at the Broadmoor’s East Course to watch her secure victory on Monday after the year’s third major had been heavily disrupted by rain, thunder and lightning over the previous four days.
“When I was a youngster, Se-ri was my hero,” Ryu said. “Se-ri is [for] all the Korean golf players a hero. And Eun-hee, I practice with Eun-hee in Australia for winter training so I am really proud of it because my hero Seri Pak and Uni were fighting for me today so it’s a really big power.”
Ryu and Seo finished the regulation 72 holes at three-under 281, Seo having closed with a three-under-par 68 shortly before play was suspended because of darkness on Sunday evening.
Ryu was one stroke behind overnight with three holes to play, but she sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-four last hole on Monday morning for a 69 to force a playoff with Seo.
She said that playing the final three holes twice on Monday morning had given her a welcome bonus.
“Sure, it was really good for me ... with the same green speed,” Ryu said. “So it was really a big benefit for me, a huge benefit.”
Seo’s title bid effectively ended at the second extra hole, the par-five 17th, where she found the lip of a fairway bunker off the tee and could advance her second shot only 100 yards.
From deep rough in front of the green, she then struck a wedge to 18 feet and missed the par putt to trail Ryu by two strokes, her fellow South Korean having sunk a 12-footer there to birdie the hole.
“Nobody knows what is going to happen next so I was just trying to prepare for today,” said Seo, who had led the field by a shot overnight. “I did my best and Ryu did a great job. I would like to congratulate her.”
Seo, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Friday, is an 11-time winner on the KLPGA Tour, but, like Ryu, she had been bidding for a maiden LPGA victory at the Broadmoor.
American world No. 2 Cristie Kerr, who won the US Women’s Open in 2007 and the LPGA Championship last year, finished alone in third at one-under after closing with a 71.
“I was in contention, but I made one bad swing on the 10th hole, in the second round,” Kerr said. “I made a triple and a couple of three-putts. To win the Open, you can’t do that. But I still had a great tournament. I’ve been playing great. I just have to stay patient. I stayed patient this week; that’s for sure.”
Compatriot Angela Stanford was a further stroke back at level par in fourth after carding a 72.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer, with CNA
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