Haeran Ryu Claims First Major with 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship Victory
Korean star overcomes shaky start at Hazeltine to seal historic comeback and secure record-breaking major title
Paju, Korea - South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu captured her maiden major title after staging a remarkable turnaround to win the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Sunday. The 25-year-old shook off a tense opening to the final round, where she dropped three shots in her first five holes, before rallying with a flawless four-under-par performance over her remaining 13 holes to sign for a two-under-par 70 and a two-stroke victory. Ryu’s historic triumph made her only the second player in major championship history to win after trailing by 10 strokes following the opening round, finishing the week at 13-under-par 275 to claim the $1.95 million winner’s prize from the record-breaking $13 million purse.
The decisive moment came at the par-four 10th hole, where Ryu resisted intense pressure from two-time major winner Brooke Henderson by rolling in a crucial 14-foot birdie putt to protect her slim one-shot lead. “I mean, it just feels like a dream right now,” Ryu said after navigating the back nine without dropping a single stroke to hold off a crowded leaderboard that included world number one Nelly Korda. “I’m so happy I got the major title and then now, at the next tournament, they will introduce me as major champion Haeran Ryu.”
A dramatic Sunday afternoon in Minnesota saw a fluctuating battle for the lead between Ryu, Henderson, and Dutch challenger Dewi Weber, who briefly surged into contention with an eagle at the seventh. However, Ryu’s premier ball-striking proved the difference as she hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation during the final round, while her closest pursuers faltered with critical dropped shots on the back nine. Fellow Korean Ina Yoon closed with a 70 to finish alone in second place at 11-under par, while Henderson and Weber shared third place a further two strokes back on 10-under-par 278.