The Woodlands, Texas – Mao Saigo was trembling with nervousness before his Birdie Putt on the first hole of a Sunday in the playoffs at the Chevron championship.
The 23 -year -old Japanese player managed to compose in time to sink the 3 feet and win his first major title.
“I did my best to calm down and I turned and it entered,” she said in Japanese by an interpreter.
Saigo sorted in the 18th par-5 in regulations for a 2-mes of 74, leaving it tied with Hyoo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn and Lindy Duncan. They finished at 7-mine of 281 at the Carlton Woods club.
SAIGO won the 18th in playoffs after Yin and Jutanugarn came out with Birdie Birdie. Jutanugarn dropped the 18th into regulation after cutting his third stroke a few centimeters.
Jutanugarn led for most of the last round before his late blunder after having two stefe and an eagle on the nine before.
“The first nine were very solid, especially with the eagle, but the back nine couples, errors in 5, which I made; two bogeys,” she said.
Yin was in the best position in playoffs after getting on green in two strokes. But she missed a 12 -foot eagle putt and her return for Birdie launched to install Saigo for victory.
SAIGO won for the first time during the LPGA tour. It was the recruit of the year of the tour last season. She is the first Japanese winner of the event and the fifth major champion. She won six victories on the Japanese tour, five in 2022.
The victory occurs after the finalist at the CPKC Women’s Open and the Buick LPGA Shanghai last year.
“Last year was a very intense competition,” she said. “I was so close but I could not get there. It was very disappointing. This year, I was able to win and win the LPGA title and I am extremely excited about it.”
Duncan, 34, built the hole in the playoffs to miss more than one quest for a decade to win his first title. But she was always satisfied with her performance overall.
“Yes, the first five in a major, any week, is incredible; having a chance, feeling the nerves,” she said. “And I feel like I have things to learn about how to manage my swing and things like that. I’m going to think (but) yes, but what a week.”
This is the second time in three years that the tournament has ended with playoffs after the American Lilia seen the first additional hole to win in 2023.
SAIGO won $ 1.2 million on the $ 8 million handbag.
The winners had jumped in the 18th green poppie pond with Mission Hills since 1988, and Saigo became the third to do so in Texas by jumping in the water tinged with brown. She cried and smiled while holding her hand with two members of her team.
The experience ended up being a little painful for Saigo who said that she was not a very good swimmer.
“When I entered inside, it was deep and at first I thought I was drowning,” she said.
Saigo entered the day tied with Haeran Ryu at 9 years old. But she built five holes on Sunday to late before her birdie on the 18th hole had a place in the playoff series to set up the fascinating finish.
Nelly Korda, of high level, pulled 70 to equalize for 14th to 2 sous. Winless this season, she won the event last year for the last of her five consecutive victories.
“Obviously, I have a lot to work,” she said. “Last year was last year. Such an incredible year, but it’s in the past. It will not help me with my future.”
