Ryu Wins First Major at 2026 Women's PGA Championship

A Comeback for the Ages at Hazeltine

Talk about a tournament that had everything. Haeran Ryu just pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks we've seen in women's golf, rallying from a tie for 70th place after the opening round to hoist the trophy at the Women's PGA Championship.

The 25-year-old South Korean finished at 13-under par, two shots clear of compatriot Ina Yoon, to claim her first career major title and the $1.95 million winner's check—part of a record-breaking $13 million purse, the largest in women's golf history.

"It feels like a dream has come true because I tried a couple times to be a major champion and I didn't get it," Ryu said after her round. "Today I did it and I'm so happy right now."

Final Round Drama at Its Finest

If you're looking for a textbook example of championship-level composure, look no further than Ryu's final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

She entered Sunday with a one-shot lead, and things got dicey in a hurry. Three bogeys in the first five holes had fans wondering if we were watching another final-round collapse. The lead changed hands multiple times as Canada's Brooke Henderson and the Netherlands' Dewi Weber each took turns at the top following a weather delay that pushed back the start by three and a half hours.

But Ryu found something on the back nine. Five birdies later, she'd posted a two-under-par 70 and left the rest of the field looking up at her on the leaderboard.

The Leaderboard Picture

-13: Haeran Ryu (KOR) — Champion
-11: Ina Yoon (KOR)
-10: Brooke Henderson (CAN), Dewi Weber (NED)
-7: Allisen Corpuz (USA), Andrea Lee (USA), Amy Kim (USA)
-6: Nelly Korda (USA), Jeeno Thitikul (THA), So Yeon Kim (KOR), A Lim Kim (KOR)

Korda's Historic Bid Falls Short

The storyline everyone was watching heading into Sunday was Nelly Korda's pursuit of a third consecutive major championship. The American started the final round just four shots back, well within striking distance for someone of her caliber.

It just wasn't meant to be. Korda couldn't find the magic she's shown so often this season, finishing tied for eighth at six-under par. Still a strong showing, but not the history-making performance she was chasing.

Weber's Breakthrough and Henderson's Near-Miss

Dewi Weber deserves a mention here. The Dutch player posted her career-best finish in a major, tying for third at 10-under. She held the lead at various points on Sunday and showed she belongs on this stage.

Brooke Henderson, who knows what it takes to win majors, was right there too. The Canadian couldn't quite close the gap in the end but reminded everyone why she's consistently in the mix at these championships.

Yoon's Rollercoaster Week

Spare a thought for Ina Yoon. The South Korean held a commanding five-shot lead after 36 holes, only to see it evaporate on moving day. To her credit, she bounced back on Sunday to finish solo second—a testament to her mental toughness even when things weren't going her way.

What This Means for Ryu

Before this week, Ryu had three career wins on the LPGA Tour. Now she's a major champion at 25, and you have to wonder if this breakthrough opens the floodgates. She showed incredible grit to climb from 10 shots back after round one, then weathered a brutal start on Sunday to close it out.

That's the kind of performance that defines careers.

Key Takeaways

Ryu's resilience: Going from T70 after round one to champion is the kind of comeback that gets talked about for years.
Record purse: The $13 million prize pool marks a significant moment for women's golf and the continued growth of the LPGA Tour.
Korda's pursuit continues: The world number one will have more chances to make history, but this one got away.
South Korean dominance: The top two finishers hailed from South Korea, continuing the country's remarkable run in women's professional golf.