60! Haeran Ryu records lowest score in major history, is on cusp of second major this season

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[Photo: Stuart Franklin]

Haeran Ryu left the 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short to shoot the second 59 in LPGA history. She tapped in on the 18th hole at the Evian Resort and had to “settle” for shooting 11-under 60, which is the lowest score in major championship history.

“I never know,” Ryu said shortly after signing for the record-breaking score at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Yes, she had no idea and the reaction on Golf Channel was priceless, showing the 25-year-old from Korea add up her scorecard and act in amazement once she realised what she had just done.

“I was shocked,” she said.

Ryu just won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago at Hazeltine National for her first major title. Now, just a few short days later she stands at 19 under after three days in France and is three shots ahead of Japan’s Aki Iwai. Brooke Henderson and Mao Saigo are tied for third seven shots behind.

Most of the scoring was done while people were still sleeping in the United States. Ryu was one under after four holes, then played the next three in four under to get the party started, including a near-ace on the fifth and an eagle on the sixth hole where she holed out from the fairway. After a birdie on the ninth hole she turned in 29.

But again, on the back, she was only one under after the first four holes then made four birdies over the last five holes to shoot 31 and sign for a 60.

When Ryu made birdie on the 17th hole from only five feet, the masses were alerted that golf’s magic score had a chance to be shot because the final hole is a par 5, which has been eagled many memorable times at Evian, including last year by eventual winner Grace Kim.

RELATED: Grace Kim’s incredible eagle, birdie, eagle finish delivers her first major title in playoff at Evian Championship

Ryu’s tee shot on 18 went well left, hit a tree and bounced back into the middle of the fairway. She hit her second shot to 30 feet and gave the putt a chance, coming up just short. Annika Sorenstam is the only player in LPGA history to shoot 59, which she did in 2001 at the Standard Register Ping event in Phoenix. Lydia Ko shot 60 earlier this year and was the eighth to do so. Hyo Joo Kim, Jeongeun Lee6 and Leona Maguire have all shot 61 at the Evian. A 62 has been shot five times in men’s majors.

“It was an amazing day,” Ryu said. “But we have one more day.”

With all eyes on Nelly Korda coming into this week, the World No. 7 Ryu has now stolen the show. Korda won the first two majors of the season and came into the Evian with a chance to win the career Grand Slam and gain entrance into the LPGA Hall of Fame. But she missed the cut. Now Ryu, having just won the last major championship two weeks ago in Minnesota, has a chance to win the second of her career, the second of the year and realistically challenge Korda for player of the year honours.

But none of that mattered in the immediate aftermath of shooting 60 when Ryu, understandably, could not wipe the smile off her face.

“I’m so happy now,” she said.

Even if she didn’t know that she made history until moments after everyone else did.