Haeran Ryu (-26) has dominated the Black Desert Championship. Just a week after experiencing one of the biggest disappointments of her career, and it’s not like the South Korean has had many, she has claimed the third victory of her career on the LPGA Tour. She did it by a landslide. Leader after the first round, leader after the second, leader after the third, and victory with a five-shot advantage over Esther Henseleit (-21) and Ruoning Yin (-21). It’s not quite like Scheffler at the Byron Nelson, but almost.
There was no better way to put behind what happened in the final round of the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season held last week. Ryu started the final round as co-leader of the tournament tied with Japanese Mao Saigo. When the tournament ended, the victory went to Saigo after a playoff, and Haeran finished sixth with a final round to forget of 76 strokes. She made it very clear today that it wasn’t going to happen again at the Black Desert Resort in Utah. She dominated the day from start to finish, starting with a birdie on the 1st, making two more before reaching the 9th, and completing her display with an impressive five-under from the 10th to the 18th. Sensational. Final round of 64 strokes starting as leader. Uncontestable.
If you’re thinking of securing the family jewels, don’t hesitate, call Haeran Ryu. She is one of the most reliable golfers on the LPGA Tour. Since turning professional in 2019, at just 18 years old, she wins at least one tournament each season. She landed on the American circuit in 2023, took a victory, and ended up as rookie of the year. The following year she won again, and now, with May just started, she has claimed another title. By the way, she is an expert in baptisms. Her last two victories have been in newly created tournaments.
Speaking of security, she has missed only five fairways all week (today she hit them all) and has barely left nine greens along the way. In other words, she has hit 63 out of 72. Incredible. The next step in her career should be a victory in a Major. She was close to achieving it a week ago and has four top 10 finishes in the last six she has played. They’re already taking too long with the family jewels.
Ryu is 24 years old, having turned last March. At 15, she already played a US Open, has won five times on the Korean circuit, and is on a fast track to the battle for World Number One. After this victory, she will enter the top 10. She is currently twelfth. Also noteworthy is the fourth place of Chinese golfer Yan Liu, another example of solidity, as well as the fifth place of the young Japanese phenomenon, Rio Takeda.
As for the Spanish players, Carlota Ciganda (-5) was unable to maintain the momentum of her phenomenal tournament start (65 strokes). With three rounds above 70, she finished in 52nd place. The best Spanish player was Azahara Muñoz (-6). She also started with a great card of 67 strokes and, like Carlota, couldn’t break 70 strokes in the following three days. She finished in 48th place. Meanwhile, Julia López and Fátima Fernández Cano missed the cut.
