Yoo Hae-ran's quest for a historic third consecutive major title in women's golf ended in disappointment.
On August 2, local time, Yoo played the final round of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Links in Lancashire, England, finishing with three birdies, four bogeys, and one double bogey for a score of 3-over-par 74.
With a total score of 1-under-par 283, Yoo concluded the tournament in a tie for 6th place.
Having won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship in succession, Yoo was aiming for a historic third major victory in a single season. Only four players in women's golf history have achieved three major wins in a year: Babe Zaharias in 1950, Mickey Wright in 1961, Pat Bradley in 1986, and Inbee Park in 2013. Among them, only Zaharias and Park hold the record for three consecutive major wins.
Yoo started the final round tied for second, three strokes behind the leader, and began strong with a birdie on the first hole (par 3). However, she made her first bogey on the third hole (par 4) and recorded a double bogey on the fifth hole after her tee shot landed in a bunker. Although she added birdies on the seventh hole (par 5) and the 13th hole (par 4), bogeys on the 11th hole (par 5), 17th hole (par 4), and 18th hole (par 4) pushed her out of contention for the title.
With this missed opportunity, Yoo also lost her lead in the race for various major titles to Nelly Korda of the United States. Yoo scored 130 points in the Annika Major Award competition, which is given to the player with the best performance in major tournaments in a season, falling behind Korda, who finished tied for 4th with a total score of 2-under-par 282 and earned 140 points. Additionally, Yoo ranked second in the CME Globe Race points, Player of the Year, and scoring average categories, all behind Korda.
The championship was claimed by Shiho Kuwaki of Japan, who finished with a total score of 5-under-par 279. After tying with Esther Henseleit of Germany, Kuwaki secured the victory by making par on the 18th hole during a second playoff.
Competing as a non-member, Kuwaki achieved her first major victory, earning a prize of $1.5 million and a spot on the LPGA Tour.
This marks the second consecutive year that a Japanese player has won the AIG Women's Open, following Miu Yamashita's victory last year.
Yoon Ye-rim, who was the sole leader after the third round, lost three strokes on the final day, finishing in third place with a total score of 4-under-par 280. Gino Titiqun of Thailand tied for fourth with Korda.
Among South Korean players, Kim Hyo-joo and Lim Jin-hee both finished with a total score of 1-over-par 285, tying for 16th place. Kim Sei-young placed 29th with a score of 4-over-par 288, while Shin Ji-eun, Ko Jin-young, and Yang Hee-young all finished tied for 47th with scores of 8-over-par 292.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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