In The Woodlands, Texas, Mao Saigo felt intensely nervous before attempting her birdie putt on the initial hole of a five-player sudden-death playoff at the Chevron Championship on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Japanese golfer managed to regain her composure just in time to successfully make the three-foot putt, securing her first major championship victory.
Speaking through an interpreter, she stated, “I made every effort to calm myself, took the shot, and it went in.”
Saigo carded a birdie on the par-5 18th hole during regulation play to finish with a round of 2-under 74. This resulted in a tie at 7-under 281 overall with Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Lindy Duncan at The Club at Carlton Woods, leading to the five-way playoff.
The playoff victory for Saigo also occurred on the 18th hole. This happened after both Ruoning Yin and Ariya Jutanugarn saw their birdie attempts narrowly miss. Jutanugarn had also struggled on the 18th in regulation play, bogeying the hole after hitting her third shot only a short distance.
Ariya Jutanugarn had held the lead for a significant portion of the final round, building momentum with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine, before her crucial error near the end.
Commenting on her round, Jutanugarn said, “The front nine was very strong, especially with the eagle, but on the back nine, I made a couple of mistakes on par 5s, resulting in two bogeys.”
During the playoff, Ruoning Yin was in the most advantageous position, reaching the green in just two strokes. However, her attempt for an eagle from 12 feet missed, and her subsequent short putt for birdie also lipped out, paving the way for Saigo to secure the victory.
This victory marks Mao Saigo`s first win on the LPGA Tour. She was recognized as the tour`s Rookie of the Year last season. She becomes the first Japanese player to win this particular event and the fifth Japanese woman to win a major championship. Additionally, she boasts six wins on the Japanese tour, with five of those coming in 2022.
This win follows her strong performances last year, where she finished as runner-up at the CPKC Women`s Open and the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournaments.
Reflecting on previous seasons, Saigo commented, “Last year, the competition was very tough. I came very close but couldn`t quite achieve it, which was disappointing. Winning an LPGA title this year is incredibly exciting for me.”
Lindy Duncan, aged 34, was unable to claim her first title after more than a decade on tour, bogeying the playoff hole. Despite this, she expressed satisfaction with her overall performance.
Duncan remarked, “Finishing in the top five at a major, any week, is incredible. Having a chance and experiencing those nerves was valuable. I feel there are areas to improve, particularly concerning managing my swing under pressure. I`ll certainly reflect on it, but overall, it was a fantastic week.”
This marks the second time in three years that the Chevron Championship has been decided by a playoff; in 2023, American Lilia Vu won on the first extra hole with a birdie.
Saigo`s victory earned her $1.2 million from the total $8 million prize fund.
A tradition dating back to 1988 involved winners jumping into Poppie`s Pond near the 18th green at Mission Hills. Saigo continued this celebratory act, becoming the third winner to jump into the brown-tinted water since the tournament moved to Texas. She was seen shrieking and smiling as she entered the pond, holding hands with two members of her team.
The experience proved slightly challenging for Saigo, who admitted she is not a strong swimmer.
She commented, “When I got in, it was deep, and initially, I worried I might drown.”
Saigo began the final day tied with Haeran Ryu at nine under par. However, she dropped back after bogeying five holes on Sunday. Her crucial birdie on the 18th then brought her back into the tie, securing her place in the playoff and setting up the dramatic conclusion.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished the tournament tied for 14th place at 2 under par, after a final round of 70. Korda, who has not won yet this season, was the defending champion, with last year`s victory here being the fifth in her remarkable streak of five consecutive wins.
Korda reflected on her performance, stating, “Clearly, I have significant areas to work on. Last year is over; it was an incredible year, but it`s in the past and won`t benefit my future game.”