Brooke Henderson survived a rollercoaster final round and birdied the last hole to win the Evian Championship by one shot at Evian Resort Golf Club in France.
The 24-year-old Canadian entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, but struggled in the early part of the round, dropping a shot at the first hole and then making a four-putt double bogey on the sixth, to lose her outright lead.
However, after sinking a birdie putt on the seventh and then making the turn in two-over, Henderson fought hard on the back nine, macking back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 to join the leaders on 16-under and then made a clutch birdie putt from 12 feet on the par-5 18th to secure the win and the second major title of her career.
Henderson, who won her first major at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, said: “It was definitely an interesting day and not the start I wanted, but I stayed patient. I knew going into the back nine, the saying is that majors are won on the back nine on Sunday, so I tried to stay in it and make a few birdies. The birdie on 18 was really nice. I didn’t play my best today, but I kept trying to remind myself that I was still in it. I hit some good shots down the stretch. I’m super excited to have my second major championship and my 12th win on Tour.”
America’s Sophia Schubert, competing in her first season on the LPGA Tour, finished second on 16-under after a final round 68, while a congested leaderboard resulted in a five-way tie for third featuring Charley Hull, Carlota Ciganda, Mao Saigo, Lydia Ko and the 2014 champion Hyo-Joo Kim of Korea on 15-under.
Hull said: “It feels good to be back in contention in a major again, and I’m feeling pretty good about my game. Hopefully this will set me up ahead of the European swing, with the Scottish Open and the British Open to come.”
Sweden’s Linn Grant and England’s Georgia Hall both saved their best until last, closing with rounds of 64 and 65 respectively to finish in a tie for eighth on 13-under with Rolex rankings number one Jin Young Ko, last year’s Race to Costa del Sol winner Atthaya Thitikul, Sei Young Kim, Nelly Korda and So Yeon Ryu.
For the final leaderboard, click here.
Brooke Henderson’s winning gear
Driver: Ping G400 (7.7°)
Fairway woods: Ping G400 3 (14°); Ping G400 5 (17.5°)
Hybrid: Ping G425 5 (22.75°)
Irons: Ping i210 (5-UW)
Wedges: Ping Glide Forged (52°, 60°)
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Putter Ketsch C
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
Shoes: Skechers