As Haeran Ryu tallied up her scorecard on Saturday, she was shocked to see that she had just made major championship history at the Evian. Nine birdies and an eagle saw her post a third-round 11-under 60, the lowest ever score in a women\u2019s major championship, to take a three-shot lead into Sunday\u2019s final round.<\/p>\n
Ryu, who won the KPMG Women\u2019s PGA Championship three weeks ago, was 18 holes away from winning consecutive major titles. It was in her grasp and felt like a foregone conclusion, especially after Aki Iwai double-bogeyed the third hole on Sunday to grow Ryu\u2019s lead to five.<\/p>\n
But the Evian always delivers Sunday chaos, and this edition was no different.<\/p>\n
Brooke Henderson, who started the day seven shots back of Ryu, opened with a birdie at the first. Then she eagled the par-5 seventh before making an ace on the par-3 eighth to move within one of Ryu, who played the first eight holes in one over.<\/p>\n
\nAN ACE FROM BROOKE HENDERSON CUTS THE LEAD TO 1 \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/g1gfxCFEgJ<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 LPGA (@LPGA) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Iwai responded from her early stumbles by making birdies at six and nine to get within two of Ryu at the turn.<\/p>\n
Ryu\u2019s lead stayed at two until Iwai made birdies at 14 and 15 to catch her at 18 under. One hole later, Henderson made a birdie of her own to pull even with Ryu and Iwai, setting up a dramatic two-hole sprint for a major title.<\/p>\n
\nAKI IWAI TIES THE LEAD WITH THREE TO PLAY \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/pCosKtCJVg<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 LPGA (@LPGA) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nBROOKE HENDERSON TIES THE LEAD \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n
There\u2019s now a three-way tie at the top with only two to play \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/EPEsVCuf1O<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 LPGA (@LPGA) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Iwai and Ryu both made par on the par-4 17th, but Henderson missed a three-foot par putt to fall one back heading to the par-5 18th.<\/p>\n
But the door quickly swung back open for Henderson when Iwai and Ryu both lost their tee shots to the left, forcing them to lay up. Henderson, meanwhile, split the fairway and stuffed her second to eight feet for an eagle look.<\/p>\n
Ryu and Iwai both found the greens with their third but were farther out than Henderson. If either made birdie, it would force Henderson to roll in her eagle to force a playoff. If both missed, Henderson would have a look to win in regulation.<\/p>\n
Ryu went first. A day after making nine birdies, she had gone 17 holes without recording a circle. Now she needed one to ensure she\u2019d at least get to a playoff. She put a confident stroke on the ball, and it barely caught the left edge of the cup and dropped to move her to 19 under.<\/p>\n
\nHAERAN RYU FINDS HER FIRST BIRDIE OF THE DAY ON 18 AND TAKES THE LEAD TO 19-UNDER \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/TljBHXLAoy<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 LPGA (@LPGA) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Iwai went next. The 24-year-old from Japan\u2019s previous best major finish came at last month\u2019s KPMG Women\u2019s PGA, where she finished in a tie for 19th. She already had the best major finish of her young career secured but needed to make a medium-length putt to head to a playoff with Ryu and potentially Henderson. Her putt missed left, leaving the stage for Henderson.<\/p>\n
It had been a blistering hot Sunday for Henderson, who had also made two eagles. A third would send her to a playoff and make her the first player in LPGA history to make three eagles in a single round. But she had also missed very short par putts at 14 and 17 that put her behind the eight ball heading to the final hole.<\/p>\n
Henderson stood over her ball, took a deep breath and rolled it right in the heart.<\/p>\n
As Henderson and Ryu were preparing for their playoff, Iwai\u2019s emotions flowed as she talked about her first major near-miss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got confidence. I never gave up,\u201d an emotional Iwai said as the tears started to flow.<\/p>\n
After the interview, Lydia Ko consoled Iwai as she processed a putt that \u201cjust missed\u201d and would\u2019ve sent her back up 18 with Henderson and Ryu.<\/p>\n
Back on the 18th tee, this time it was Henderson who pulled her tee shot left while Ryu striped it down the middle. After Henderson laid up, Ryu found the green in two, giving herself a lengthy eagle look.<\/p>\n
With Ryu almost assured of a two-putt birdie, Henderson knew she needed to stick her approach shot close to have a chance to extend the playoff. But she tugged it left, and her ball rolled off the green and nestled in the rough.<\/p>\n
\nBrooke Henderson misses the green and will be looking at a chip for birdie.<\/p>\n
Catch all the action now on @GolfChannel<\/a> \ud83d\udcfa pic.twitter.com\/JrUyAcxqnr<\/a><\/p>\n