Japanese golfer Mao Saigo secured her first major championship title on Sunday, winning the Chevron Championship in a dramatic five-way playoff at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.
The 23-year-old, experiencing intense nerves before her critical birdie putt on the first playoff hole, managed to regain her composure. She sank the 3-foot putt to claim the victory.
Speaking through an interpreter, Saigo said, “I did my best to calm down and I shot and it went in.”
Saigo had finished her final round with a 2-under 74, sinking a birdie on the par-5 18th to join a packed leaderboard at 7-under 281. She was tied with Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Lindy Duncan, setting the stage for the extended finish.
The playoff returned to the 18th hole. Saigo emerged victorious after both Yin and Jutanugarn saw their birdie attempts on the hole agonizingly lip out. Jutanugarn, who had led for much of the final round, bogeyed the 18th in regulation play after a short third shot.
Jutanugarn reflected on her round, noting, “The front nine was very solid especially with the eagle, but back nine just couple mistakes on par 5 that I made; two bogeys.”
Ruoning Yin had a prime opportunity in the playoff, reaching the green in two shots, but missed her eagle putt from 12 feet. Her subsequent attempt for birdie also lipped out, opening the door for Saigo.
This victory marks Saigo`s maiden win on the LPGA Tour. The tour`s Rookie of the Year last season, she is the first Japanese player to win this event and the fifth Japanese golfer to win a major. She boasts six victories on the Japanese tour, five of which came in 2022.
The win follows her strong runner-up finishes at the CPKC Women`s Open and Buick LPGA Shanghai during the previous season.
“Last year it was a very intense competition,” Saigo commented. “I was so close but I was not able to make it. It was very disappointing. This year I was able to win and earn the LPGA title and I`m extremely excited about this.”
Lindy Duncan, the 34-year-old seeking her first title after over a decade on tour, bogeyed the playoff hole, finishing short of the win. Despite the outcome, she expressed satisfaction with her overall performance. “Yeah, top five in a major, any week, is unbelievable; to have a chance, feeling the nerves,” she said. “And I feel like I have some things to learn about how to handle my swing and things like that. I`ll reflect on it [but] yeah, but what a week.”
This marks the second time in three years the tournament has been decided in a playoff, following Lilia Vu`s victory on the first extra hole in 2023.
Saigo takes home $1.2 million from the total $8 million purse.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, albeit now in Texas instead of Mission Hills, Saigo celebrated by jumping into Poppie`s Pond near the 18th green. She became the third winner to take the plunge in the brown-tinged water in Texas, shrieking and smiling as she entered, holding hands with members of her team.
The experience proved slightly alarming for Saigo, who admitted she isn`t a strong swimmer. “When I went inside it was deep and at first I thought I was going to drown,” she recounted.
Saigo began the final round tied with Haeran Ryu at 9 under. However, five bogeys on Sunday caused her to fall back before her decisive birdie on the 18th secured her place in the playoff and led to her thrilling win.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot a final round 70, finishing tied for 14th at 2 under. Korda, who won this event last year as part of her record-tying five consecutive victories, is still seeking her first win this season.
“Obviously, I have a lot to work on,” Korda stated. “Last year was last year. Such an amazing year but it`s in the past. It`s not going to help me with my future.”
Adrian Whitmore