Haeran Ryu, in fact, was dominant as can be, en route to winning the first-ever Black Desert Championship, played on Sunday. The South Korean golfer grabbed the world’s attention by winning the major by five shots with a final round 8-under 64. This stunning victory made her the 10th different winner in as many tournaments on the LPGA Tour this year.
Ryu started the last round hanging onto a one-shot lead over Germany’s Esther Henseleit. Then, as she neared the difficult back nine, her game thrived like never before. Ryu hit a perfect back nine, capped off by an 8-foot eagle make on No. 13. This move on her part proved to be a winning tactic, as she broke away from Henseleit, who couldn’t keep up.
Ryu’s breakthrough moment came when she made a dramatic 15-footer for birdie at the 11th hole. She finished that rally with a near-perfect second shot to the 15th, leaving herself an easy 3-foot birdie opportunity. These two seemingly unassuming shots proved to be crucial as they extended her lead to four strokes, demonstrating Simon’s strength and composure in the clutch.
Ryu’s close but impressive victory was a testament to her adaptability, talent, and campaigning chops. This victory doubled as her second victory at a new event. She made history as the second player to accomplish a wire-to-wire win on the LPGA Tour this year. This victory continues her amazing string of victories at the ballot box. It’s her seventh straight year in a row winning since she first came onto the scene at the Korea LPGA as an 18-year-old!
Henseleit acknowledged Ryu’s remarkable performance, stating, “Started out great on the front nine and then couldn’t quite keep up on the back. Haeran played amazing and she really deserved to win it today.”
As Ryu checked in after what was a pretty great day for her, she told us how happy she was to have won.
“Incredible day.” – Haeran Ryu
Many of you may be wondering what happened to last year’s FM Championship winner. No matter the case, Ryu’s Black Desert Championship victory is a perfect demonstration of her exceptional skill and fierce resolve.
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