Golfer Haeran Ryu Wins First Major After 10-Shot Comeback

Coming from 10 shots behind to win seemed impossible, but Haeran Ryu just proved it can be done.

The South Korean golfer won her first Major Championship at the 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. She's the first golfer in six decades to win a major after trailing by 10 shots following the opening round.

Ryu faced more than just tough competition. Heavy storms delayed play for three and a half hours, and 30mph wind gusts made every shot a challenge. Soggy greens and unpredictable bounces into bunkers tested even the most experienced players.

But Ryu stayed focused. During Round 3, she sank a stunning 28-foot eagle putt on the seventh hole. In the final round, she saved par on the crucial 16th hole when it mattered most.

What makes this win even more remarkable is the timing. Ryu returned to the tour just one week earlier after undergoing minor surgery in South Korea. Most athletes would ease back into competition, but she came back ready to make history.

The win comes with a $1.95 million prize from a record-breaking $13 million purse, the largest in women's golf history. That milestone alone shows how far women's golf has come in recognizing and rewarding elite athletes.

Why This Inspires

Ryu has now won at least one tournament every year during her four-year LPGA career. Her consistency shows that major success doesn't happen overnight. It comes from showing up, putting in the work, and believing in yourself even when you're 10 shots behind.

The final round saw plenty of inspiring performances beyond Ryu's win. Dewi Weber, ranked 210th in the world, held the lead for several holes and finished tied for third, her best major finish ever. Weber recently announced she and her wife are expecting their first child and credits a new mindset for her success on the course.

"I've been evaluating my life and my choices a bit more," Weber said after Round 3. She mentioned that turning 30 and preparing for motherhood helped something "click" inside her.

Sometimes our biggest breakthroughs come right after our toughest challenges, and Ryu just showed the world exactly what that looks like.