Haeran Ryu was casually playing at Evian Resort Golf Club, thinking she was playing on a par-72 layout. But little did she know that her third round would set a major record. Less than a month after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the South Korean professional posted the lowest round in major history, an 11-under 60. During the post-round media interaction, a reporter asked Ryu whether she was aware she was on the verge of shooting 59 when she lined up the putt on the 18th green, and her reply was absolutely hilarious.
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“No, never knew,” Ryu said. “I never knew because I didn’t know it is a par 71. That’s why I just hit it—I just—I didn’t know my score on the green today, so that’s why I didn’t know on hole 18 [what I was lining up for]. But after the putt, I counted my score with my caddie and said, ‘Oh, my God, it’s 11 under par today.’ It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ Yeah, I’m so happy right now.”
Haeran Ryu’s confusion was valid. The Evian Resort switches to a par-71 layout for the major, and Ryu, probably too engrossed in making one birdie after another, became oblivious to the fact it’s not a par-72 course. After opening rounds of 66 and 68, her bogey-free third round made history. No one has ever carded a 60 in a major. On the men’s side, the record for the lowest round is 62, and it belongs to Branden Grace (2017 Open Championship); Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler (both at the 2023 U.S. Open); and Shane Lowry (2024 PGA Championship). On the women’s side, three pros have carded a 61 in majors. Hyo Joo Kim shot a 61 in 2014 in this very same course, as did Leona Maguire and Jeung-eun Lee6, some seven years later. Now, Ryu has dethroned them without intending to, as her next comments revealed.
Asked whether she ever dreamed of carding the lowest round in major history, Ryu said, “No. When we first started this tournament, at the press conference, I said my goal is just to play on the weekend; that’s it. But so good. Feels like a dream again, so I just hope tomorrow I play well, too.”
On Saturday, she made nine birdies and an eagle for her round of 60. While she made an eagle on the 15th in Round 2, her eagle in Round 3 came on the par-4 6th. After reaching the fairway with a hybrid, Ryu opted for a 7-iron. She blasted her approach and walked with a confident swagger toward the green, hoping to save par. But then came the noise, and she realized that she had just holed out for an eagle.
Haeran Ryu raised both arms, club in hand, her smile broadening as she realized what had happened. She then followed with a high-five to her caddie. Speaking after the round, Ryu said that the hole was tricky because of the hilly green. Although she knew it was a good shot, she was pleasantly surprised to see her ball inside the cup.
The 25-year-old is now in contention to win consecutive majors after her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. And coincidentally, there’s a similar pattern between the two tournaments.
At Hazeltine, Ryu opened with a 73. This left her 10 shots behind first‑round leader Ina Yoon. But she didn’t just clear the deficit. She continued to perform well in the third and fourth rounds despite the wind that troubled even Nelly Korda. This time, she already has a three-stroke lead over Aki Iwai, who is 16-under par after Round 3.
“She’s on fire,” Iwai said when asked about Ryu. “So, good inspiration.”
Ryu had a chance to match Annika Sorenstam’s record of 59 in an LPGA Tour event. Although she fell short of that, right now, her main goal is to win the Amundi Evian Championship. Ryu, notably, went under the knife in May after the Kroger Queen City Championship. But the back surgery had no negative impact on her game.
She returned to the greens at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and claimed her first major. And now she leads in the fourth major of the LPGA season. If she wins, Ryu will join Nelly Korda as the only double major winner of this season. And she has all the momentum to continue adding another major to her resume.