Haeran Ryu Triumphs at FM Championship After Dramatic Playoff Victory
Haeran Ryu wins the FM Championship at TPC Boston, rebounding from a third-round setback to secure her second LPGA Tour victory in a thrilling playoff against Jin Young Ko.
Bollywood Fever: Haeran Ryu displayed incredible resilience to win the FM Championship on a rainy Sunday at TPC Boston, overcoming a third-round meltdown to claim her second LPGA Tour victory in a dramatic playoff against fellow South Korean star Jin Young Ko.
Ryu, 23, entered the final round four strokes behind Ko after squandering a six-stroke lead on Saturday with a 78. However, she staged a remarkable comeback, closing with an 8-under 64 to tie Ko at 15-under 273. The two then faced off in a sudden-death playoff on the par-5 18th hole.
As daylight faded, Ryu hit a precise 120-yard third shot to within 12 feet of the hole, while Ko’s 111-yard approach went over the back of the green. Ko chipped to about 30 feet and made bogey, leaving the door open for Ryu. Ryu then calmly lagged her birdie putt to a foot and tapped in for par, securing the win.
“I was so nervous at the playoff, but maybe Jin Young Ko is same as me,” Ryu said after her victory. “I think just thank for God. I can’t believe it here now.”
Ryu’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. After setting a career-best 62 on Friday to take a commanding lead into the weekend, she faltered with a 78 on Saturday. However, her caddie and team provided the support she needed to bounce back. “My caddie and my other teammates said to me, ‘Just for today it’s bad, and tomorrow it all comes through. Just trust yourself,’” Ryu shared.
On Sunday, Ryu came out firing, birdieing the first four holes and six of the first eight. She added birdies on Nos. 10, 12, and 15, dropped a stroke on the par-3 16th, and after a rain delay of over two hours, parred the final two holes to force the playoff.
Jin Young Ko, a former world No. 1 who hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since May 2023, narrowly missed an 8-foot birdie putt for the win on the 18th hole in regulation. Despite shooting a solid 68, Ko was unable to close out the victory. “I played really, really good this week,” Ko said. “Unfortunately, just the last shot wasn’t good and I lose. But overall, I played really solid, and congrats to Hae Ran.”
Ryu’s victory earned her $570,000 from the $3.8 million purse. This win marks her second LPGA Tour title, following her victory at the NW Arkansas Championship last year. Ryu also has five wins on the Korean tour. “Really happy because first win is so hard, but second is hard again,” Ryu remarked.
Ruixin Liu of China finished one stroke back after carding her second consecutive 64, the lowest scores of her LPGA Tour career.
Liu made an incredible comeback, starting Sunday’s round with seven consecutive birdies, just days after opening the tournament with a quadruple bogey. “I can’t believe it’s true because starting with a 9 off the bat, I didn’t really even think I can make the cut,” Liu said. “So, I’m very grateful to have even had a tee time on Saturday, and to have the best score of my career two times in a row is just amazing.”
Allisen Corpuz and Atthaya Thitikul both shot 67 to tie for fourth at 13-under, while Jennifer Kupcho (65) joined Celine Borge (63), Ariya Jutanugarn (65), and Arpichaya Yubol (66) at 11-under.
The FM Championship, in its inaugural year, has already confirmed its return to TPC Boston next year, much to the excitement of fans and players alike.
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