GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Carlota Ciganda ended a nine-year LPGA Tour victory drought in dramatic fashion, holding off a charging Choi Hye-jin to win the Meijer LPGA Classic by one stroke at Blythefield Country Club. The 33-year-old Spaniard carded a final-round 68 to finish at 21-under 267, securing her first LPGA title since the 2014 Airbus LPGA Classic.
Ciganda's victory came after a tense back-nine battle with Choi, who fired a tournament-low 63 on Sunday to apply pressure. The two-time Solheim Cup star responded with clutch birdies on the 15th and 17th holes to maintain her lead. "I've been working so hard for this moment," an emotional Ciganda told reporters. "To finally win again after all these years feels incredible."
A Long-Awaited Return to the Winner's Circle
Ciganda's previous LPGA victory came 3,287 days earlier in Mobile, Alabama. Since then, the Pamplona native had recorded 28 top-10 finishes without breaking through. Her consistency earned her a spot among the tour's elite - she's ranked inside the top 50 for nine consecutive years - but the trophy case remained unchanged.
The breakthrough nearly came earlier this season when Ciganda lost in a playoff to Patty Tavatanakit at the Honda LPGA Thailand. That near-miss made Sunday's triumph even sweeter. "After Thailand, I knew my game was there," she said. "I just needed to stay patient and trust the process."
Final Round Drama in Michigan
The tournament turned into a two-player showdown over the final holes:
- Ciganda began Sunday with a two-shot lead over Ally Ewing and Lexi Thompson
- Choi surged up the leaderboard with eight birdies in her first 14 holes
- The pivotal moment came at the par-5 15th, where Ciganda converted a 12-foot birdie putt
- A crucial par save on 16 maintained her lead after Choi had posted 21-under in the clubhouse
Ciganda's approach shot on the 72nd hole nearly sealed the victory in style, stopping just inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie. The dramatic finish continued her trend of strong performances at Blythefield Country Club, where she now has four top-10 finishes in her last five appearances.
What This Win Means for Ciganda
The victory propels Ciganda to 15th in the Race to CME Globe standings and likely secures her spot on the European Solheim Cup team for the fourth time. More importantly, it validates her decision to stick with coach Jorge Parada despite the long winless streak. "Jorge always believed in me," she said. "We knew if we kept improving little things, the results would come."
Key Stats from Ciganda's Victory
The numbers behind Ciganda's breakthrough performance:
- Led the field in greens in regulation (82.1%)
- Ranked 3rd in putting average (1.68 putts per GIR)
- Played the par-5s in 14-under for the week
- Made just three bogeys over 72 holes
Reactions from the Golf World
Fellow players celebrated Ciganda's long-awaited victory on social media. Solheim Cup teammate Suzann Pettersen tweeted: "So proud of my girl @carlotagolf! Persistence pays off. Never doubted you for a second. ¡Vamos!" LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan praised both the champion and runner-up: "Carlota's perseverance and Choi's spectacular final round showcased the incredible depth of talent on our tour."
With the win, Ciganda becomes the third Spanish woman to record multiple LPGA victories, joining legends Seve Ballesteros' niece Carmen and Marta Figueras-Dotti. The $375,000 winner's check pushes her career earnings past $8.5 million.
As Ciganda lifted the trophy amid champagne showers, she reflected on the journey: "Golf gives and golf takes. Today it gave me this beautiful moment after so many years of hard work. I'll cherish this forever." With the KPMG Women's PGA Championship looming, the newly crowned champion now sets her sights on an even bigger prize - her first major championship.
