Ryu Completes Historic Comeback to Capture KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

For four unforgettable days, Hazeltine National Golf Club provided the stage for record-setting performances, inspiring stories, and one of the most remarkable comebacks in women’s major championship history.

When the championship began on Thursday, Haeran Ryu appeared to be an unlikely contender. After an opening-round 73, the 25-year-old South Korean found herself tied for 70th place and 10 shots behind the lead. By Sunday evening, she was raising the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship trophy on the 18th green.

Ryu completed her stunning turnaround with a final-round 2-under 70, finishing at 13-under par to earn her first major championship and fourth LPGA Tour victory. The comeback began with a bold mid-tournament adjustment. After struggling on the greens in the opening round, Ryu returned to a familiar Scotty Cameron putter and immediately found her rhythm. This fueled a spectacular second-round 64—her low round of the championship—which vaulted her back into contention and transformed the momentum of her week.

Sunday’s final round proved every bit as dramatic as expected. A three-and-a-half-hour weather delay and challenging winds tested the world’s best players throughout the afternoon. Four different players held at least a share of the lead before Ryu’s steady ball-striking and composure helped her take control on the back nine.

With a three-shot lead late in the round, Ryu calmly navigated Hazeltine’s closing stretch before tapping in for par on the 18th hole. Moments later, she was greeted by fellow competitors and a celebratory champagne shower beside the green.

“It feels like a dream,” Ryu said afterward. “I cannot trust it right now.”

The victory secured Ryu’s place in major championship history, as she became the first player in more than six decades to overcome a double-digit first-round deficit and win a women’s major championship.

While Ryu ultimately claimed the trophy, fellow South Korean Ina Yoon delivered one of the championship’s defining performances. The 23-year-old opened the week with a dazzling, bogey-free 9-under 63, tying the lowest round in KPMG Women’s PGA Championship history and establishing a new competitive course record at Hazeltine. Yoon birdied five of her final six holes on Thursday and remained near the top of the leaderboard throughout the week, ultimately finishing solo second at 11-under par for the best result of her LPGA Tour career.

Another memorable story belonged to Nicole Felce, who earned Low PGA of America and LPGA Professional honors in just her second KPMG Women’s PGA Championship appearance. The Assistant Golf Professional from Florida was the only member of the eight-player Corebridge Financial Team to make the cut and became one of only a handful of club professionals to play the weekend since the PGA of America and LPGA partnership began in 2015.

“Making the weekend was my goal this week,” Felce said. “To have done it and play alongside the world’s best was really special.”

The championship leaderboard featured elite talent from top to bottom. Brooke Henderson and Dewi Weber shared third place at 10-under par, while World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished tied for eighth after another strong major championship showing.

For Hazeltine, the week added another memorable chapter to the club’s championship legacy. Fans witnessed a course-record performance, a breakthrough major victory, and a final-round battle that remained undecided until the closing holes. From Yoon’s historic opening round to Felce’s inspiring weekend and Ryu’s unforgettable comeback, the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship showcased the very best of women’s golf on one of the game’s great championship stages.