Haeran Ryu wins Women's PGA Championship, her first Major title
Synopsis
Haeran Ryu pulled off the greatest comeback in Women's PGA Championship history, erasing a 10-shot first-round deficit to claim her maiden Major title in Chaska. The last time anyone recovered from such a gap in any Major was back in 1964 — making Ryu's win not just a personal milestone, but a record for the ages.
Key Takeaways
Haeran Ryu won the Women's PGA Championship with a final-round 2-under-par 70 at Chaska, Minnesota on 29 June .
Ryu overcame a 10-stroke opening-round deficit — the largest ever erased to win the Women's PGA Championship.
She became the seventh player since 1990 to win in each of her first four LPGA seasons .
Ina Yoon finished solo second; Brooke Henderson and Dewi Weber tied for third.
Nelly Korda closed with a 73 , falling short of becoming only the third player to win the first three Majors of a calendar year.
The last player to overcome a 10-stroke first-round deficit in any Major was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women's Western Open .
Haeran Ryu fired a final-round 2-under-par 70 at Chaska, Minnesota on 29 June to claim the Women's PGA Championship — her first Major Championship title on the LPGA Tour. The victory was built on one of the most remarkable comebacks in Major history, as Ryu had trailed overnight leader Ina Yoon by 10 strokes after the opening round.
A Historic Comeback
Ryu's opening-round 73 (1-over-par) left her staring at a 10-shot deficit behind Yoon, who carded a stunning 63 (9-under-par) on day one. That gap proved to be the largest opening-round deficit ever overcome to win the Women's PGA Championship. The last player to erase a deficit of at least 10 strokes after round one to win any Major Championship was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women's Western Open, where Mann had shot an 83 — 10 shots behind round-one leader Ruth Jessen (73) at Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola, Florida.
Ryu Joins Elite LPGA Company
With this victory, Ryu became just the seventh player since 1990 to record wins in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour. She joined an exclusive group: Karrie Webb (9 seasons), Grace Park (5), Yani Tseng (5), Brooke Henderson (5), Sei Young Kim (6), and Jin Young Ko (6). The South Korean credited her coach back home for her breakthrough. '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,' Ryu said. '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.'
Leaderboard Breakdown
Ina Yoon, who led after both the first and second rounds, closed with a 2-under-par 70 to finish in solo second place. Brooke Henderson — who was seeking a Women's PGA Championship title 10 years after her maiden Major at Sahalee — shot a final-round even-par 72 and finished tied for third alongside Dewi Weber. Nelly Korda, who had entered the week as the 11th player in women's Major Championship history to win the first two Majors of a calendar year, closed with a 73 and was unable to make history as only the third player to claim the first three Majors in a single season — a feat achieved only by Inbee Park in 2013 and Babe Zaharias in 1950.
What This Win Means
Ryu's triumph underlines the continued dominance of South Korean golfers on the women's Major circuit. Her ability to erase a double-digit deficit over three rounds speaks to exceptional consistency and mental resilience. Notably, this is also the latest chapter in what has been an extraordinarily competitive Women's PGA Championship in recent years, with multiple nationalities and generations of players contending at the top. The win is expected to significantly elevate Ryu's world ranking and sponsor profile heading into the second half of the LPGA season.
Point of View
But the more significant storyline may be what it says about field depth on the LPGA Tour. A 10-shot first-round deficit being overturned suggests the front-runner, Ina Yoon, couldn't sustain elite pressure across four rounds — not that Ryu was exceptional from the start. Korda's failure to complete a three-Major sweep is also worth examining: the world No. 1 closed with a 73 on a day when the champion shot 70, pointing to a mental edge that statistics alone won't capture. South Korean dominance in women's golf is not new, but Ryu's entry into the record books so early in her career signals a generational pipeline that shows no signs of slowing.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025 Women's PGA Championship?
Haeran Ryu of South Korea won the 2025 Women's PGA Championship, shooting a final-round 2-under-par 70 at Chaska, Minnesota. It was her first Major Championship title on the LPGA Tour.
What made Haeran Ryu's win historically significant?
Ryu overcame a 10-stroke deficit after the opening round to win — the largest first-round gap ever erased in Women's PGA Championship history. The last player to recover from a 10-shot deficit in any Major was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women's Western Open.
Who finished second at the Women's PGA Championship?
Ina Yoon, who had led after both the first and second rounds, closed with a 2-under-par 70 to finish in solo second place. Brooke Henderson and Dewi Weber tied for third after shooting even-par 72 and matching scores respectively.
Did Nelly Korda complete a three-Major sweep in 2025?
No. Korda, who had won the first two Majors of the 2025 calendar year, closed with a 73 and could not complete a three-Major sweep. Only Inbee Park (2013) and Babe Zaharias (1950) have won the first three Majors of a calendar year.
What LPGA record did Ryu set with this win?
Ryu became the seventh player since 1990 to win in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour, joining Karrie Webb, Grace Park, Yani Tseng, Brooke Henderson, Sei Young Kim, and Jin Young Ko.
