Haeran Ryu etched her name in the record books Saturday at the Evian Championship, firing an 11-under-par 60 to establish a new benchmark for the lowest single round in LPGA major history. The South Korean golfer's stellar performance at Evian Resort Golf Club propelled her to a three-stroke lead heading into the final round.
Ryu, 25, expressed surprise at her historic achievement, stating she was unaware of the record until she tallied her scorecard with her caddie. "Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing," Ryu said after the round. "My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now."
Her remarkable round narrowly missed the chance to be the second player ever to shoot a 59 in LPGA history, as her eagle putt on the 18th hole fell just short, resulting in a birdie. That putt would have also given her a second major title in as many weeks, following her victory at the Women's PGA Championship two weeks prior.
The previous record for the lowest round in an LPGA major was 61, achieved by Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, all at the Evian Championship. The tournament was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
In comparison, the lowest round in men's major championships is 62, a score held by Branden Grace, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and Shane Lowry across various tournaments. Schauffele and Fowler achieved this mark during the 2023 U.S. Open, while Schauffele and Lowry matched it at the 2024 PGA Championship.
Ryu hopes her record-setting third round will serve as momentum for her pursuit of a second major championship. "That is amazing, amazing dream," Ryu stated. "So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.