Yoo Hae-ran Wins Women's PGA Championship, Captures First Major Title
By Kang Sang HeonPosted : June 29, 2026, 08:44Updated : June 29, 2026, 08:44
Yoo Hae-ran has become the first major queen of her career. [Photo: Yonhap News, Reuters]
Yoo Hae-ran has claimed her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, on June 29.
In the final round, Yoo recorded five birdies and three bogeys for a score of 2-under 70, finishing with a total of 13-under 275. She secured the victory by two strokes over Yoon In-na, who finished with a total of 11-under 277. Along with her first major win, Yoo earned a record prize of $1.95 million, the highest ever for a women's golf tournament.
Yoo, the 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, has now achieved four career victories. Her winning streak began with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in her debut year, followed by the FM Championship in 2024, the Black Desert Championship last year, and now this major title, marking four consecutive seasons with a win.
Starting the final round with a one-stroke lead, Yoo exchanged three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine without gaining any ground. However, she turned the tide on the back nine, making a birdie on the 10th hole with a precise iron shot and adding another on the 12th to extend her lead. After successfully making a challenging par putt on the 16th hole, she sealed her victory with a par on the 18th.
Yoo's win marks the first major championship for South Korean women's golf since Yang Hee-young's victory in 2024. In the broader context of the LPGA Tour this season, it is the fourth win for a South Korean player, following victories by Im Yeong-hee and Kim Hyo-joo.
The Women's PGA Championship has a rich history with South Korean players. Including its predecessor, the LPGA Championship, champions such as Park Se-ri (three wins), Inbee Park (three wins), Sung Hyun Park (2018), Sei Young Kim (2020), Jeon In-gee (2022), and Yang Hee-young (2024) have all claimed titles. Yoo becomes the 11th South Korean champion in this event's history.
Additionally, Hazeltine National Golf Club is notable for being the site where Y.E. Yang defeated Tiger Woods in 2009, becoming the first Asian male golfer to win a major championship.
Meanwhile, Yoon In-na, who led after the first two rounds, finished second with a total of 11-under 277, achieving her best result in a major tournament.
Brooke Henderson of Canada and Dewi Weber of the Netherlands tied for third place with a total of 10-under 278. Nelly Korda, who was aiming for a calendar Grand Slam this year, finished tied for eighth with a total of 6-under 282, alongside Kim Sei-young and Kim A-rim.