Randy Stutzman Facebook Twitter
After a weather delay that pushed back starting times more than 3 hours, Haeran Ryu shot a final-round, 2-under-par 70 to win the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and her first Major Championship title.
It was back-and-forth on the front nine on Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, with Ryu battling her playing partners, Brooke Henderson and Ina Yoon, along with Dewi Weber for the lead.
But Ryu, who began the day a stroke ahead of Henderson, proved too tough on the back nine, avoiding bogeys and shooting a 2-under 34 to close.
“Feels like dreams come true right now because I tried the couple times on the major champion but I don’t get it; today I did it, so I’m so happy right now,” said Ryu.
Ina Yoon birdied the last to finish in solo second while Henderson and Dewi Weber tied for third.
It was a historic comeback for Haeran Ryu (73, 1-over-par), who trailed then-leader Ina Yoon (63, 9-under-par) by 10 strokes at the conclusion of the opening round. It’s the largest opening-round deficit ever overcome to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The last player to overcome an opening-round deficit of at least 10 strokes to win any Major Championship was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women’s Western Open. Mann shot 83 in the first round, which was 10 shots back of Round 1 leader Ruth Jessen (73) at Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola, Florida.
Ryu, who took six weeks away from the game to deal with a minor medical issue, was able to bounce back in Major Fashion.
“Yeah, just a little bit short offseason during the season, but I just work hard with my coach still in Korea and it works this week, so I just thankful my coach and everybody.”
“He [Coach] tell me like just trust yourself and that’s it. You don’t have another problem so just trust your shot and trust your caddie,” said Ryu.
With her win today, the South Korean Ryu also became just the seventh player since 1990 to win in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour. She joins Karrie Webb (9 years), Grace Park (5), Yani Tseng (5), Brooke Henderson (5), Sei Young Kim (6), and Jin Young Ko (6).
Ina Yoon, who held the lead after both 18 holes and 36 holes, closed with a 2-under-par 70.
“It’s hard to describe. Grateful to, you know, have a really valuable experience that I have today,” said Yoon. “Little disappointed yesterday and today, but I think I did [a] pretty good job being under pressure and it’s just part of golf.”
Henderson, who was looking to win a KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 10 years after her maiden Major title at Sahalee, shot a final-round, even-par 72.
“I feel like I’m back in better form. I feel like I’m close to being really good again which is really exciting, said Henderson. “So happy to get a Top 3 in a major. Makes the whole season feel a little bit better, and also gives me a lot of confidence, momentum going into the rest of the year, which my next two events are also majors. Hopefully I can carry that forward.”
Nelly Korda, who was the 11th player in women’s Major Championship history to win each of the first two Major Championships of a calendar year, closed with a 73. The only players to win each of the first three Majors in a calendar year are Inbee Park (2013) and Babe Zaharias (1950).
Nicole Felce, a PGA of America and LPGA Assistant Golf Professional at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Fla., and a member of the Corebridge Financial Team, played the weekend at Hazeltine. She shot a final-round 73, and finished in 68th place.
“Really amazing. Really, really special to be here. Making the weekend was my goal this week, so to have done it and just to soak it all in and to have — to have played along with the world’s best was really special and really amazing and really humbling,” said Felce.
