In The Woodlands, Texas, Mao Saigo felt intense nerves before her birdie putt on the first hole of a five-way playoff during the Chevron Championship on Sunday.
However, the 23-year-old Japanese golfer managed to regain composure and successfully sank the 3-foot putt to secure her first major championship victory.
Speaking through an interpreter, she stated, “I tried my best to settle down, and I hit the shot, and it went in.”
Saigo had forced her way into the playoff by making a birdie on the par-5 18th hole in regulation, finishing with a 2-under 74. This left her tied at 7-under 281 at The Club at Carlton Woods with Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Lindy Duncan.
Saigo clinched the win on the same 18th hole in the playoff after both Yin and Jutanugarn saw their birdie attempts narrowly miss. Jutanugarn had also stumbled in regulation play, bogeying the 18th after fluffing her third shot just inches.
Jutanugarn had been leading for much of the final round, propelled by two birdies and an eagle on the front nine, before her late error.
She commented, “The front nine was very solid, especially with the eagle, but the back nine had a couple of mistakes on par 5s; two bogeys.”
Ruoning Yin appeared to be in the strongest position in the playoff, reaching the green in two shots. But she missed a 12-foot eagle putt, and her subsequent short putt for birdie lipped out, paving the way for Saigo`s victory.
This marks Mao Saigo`s inaugural win on the LPGA Tour. She was the tour`s Rookie of the Year the previous season. Saigo is the first Japanese player to win this event and the fifth Japanese woman to claim a major title. She has previously won six times on the Japanese tour, including five victories in 2022.
Her victory follows two runner-up finishes last year at the CPKC Women`s Open and the Buick LPGA Shanghai event.
Reflecting on those near misses, she said, “Last year, the competition was very intense. I came so close but couldn`t quite make it, which was very disappointing. This year, I was able to win and get the LPGA title, and I`m extremely excited.”
Lindy Duncan, 34, also participated in the playoff but bogeyed the extra hole, missing her chance to claim a first tour title after more than a decade. Despite this, she expressed satisfaction with her overall performance.
Duncan stated, “Yes, a top-five finish in a major, any week, is incredible; having that opportunity, feeling the pressure. I feel I have things to learn regarding my swing and other aspects. I`ll think about it [but] yes, what a week.”
This championship is the second in three years to be decided by a playoff; Lilia Vu won the 2023 event by birdying the first extra hole.
Saigo earned $1.2 million from the total $8 million prize fund.
Following a tradition dating back to 1988 at Mission Hills, winners leap into a nearby water hazard. Saigo became the third winner to jump into the brown-tinged water at the Texas location, shrieking and smiling as she entered hand-in-hand with two team members.
The celebrated dip turned out to be somewhat frightening for Saigo, who admitted she is not a strong swimmer.
She recalled, “When I went in, it was deep, and initially, I thought I might drown.”
Saigo began the final day tied with Haeran Ryu at 9 under. However, five bogeys on Sunday caused her to drop back before her clutch birdie on the 18th forced her into the playoff and led to the dramatic conclusion.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished tied for 14th at 2 under after a final round 70. Korda, who has not won this season, had won the event last year as part of her record-equalling five consecutive victories.
Korda commented, “Obviously, I have a lot to work on. Last year was last year. It was such an amazing year, but it`s in the past. It won`t help me in the future.”
