Brooke Henderson captured her second major title by sinking an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to record a one-stroke win at the Evian Championship on Sunday in Evian-les-Bains, France.
Henderson, 24, was doused in champagne on the 18th green after carding an even-par 71 on Sunday and 17-under-par 267 for the tournament.
“To be sitting here a two-time major championship is just an unreal feeling,” Henderson said. “My coach, my dad, and my mom’s support, and of course Brit (Henderson, her sister and caddie) who’s out there all the time with me, it’s just amazing, and it’s going to be really cool when we can all celebrate together.”
Henderson finished one stroke ahead of Sophia Schubert (68), who was attempting to become the first LPGA Tour rookie to win a major since Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit captured the 2021 Chevron Championship.
Henderson pocketed $1 million with the victory, which was her 12th on the LPGA Tour and first major since the 2016 Women’s PGA Championship. She is also the first Canadian golfer — male or female — with more than one major title.
On Sunday, Henderson stumbled out of the blocks with a bogey on the first hole and a double-bogey on No. 6. She rebounded with a birdie on the seventh hole and overcame a bogey on No. 11 to notch a birdie on three of her final five holes.
“You know the saying is that majors are won on the back nine on Sunday, so I just tried to keep that frame of mind and knew I was still in it if I could have a solid back,” Henderson said. “I was able to make a few birdies which was nice, and obviously to make that birdie on 18 that makes it really nice.”
Shubert, 26, overcame a bogey on the second hole to make her charge. She recorded birdies on Nos. 6, 11, 12 and 15 to move up on the leaderboard.
“I have a lot of support back home and they’ve been telling me over and over again, you can do this. Just be confident,” said Schubert, whose 268 for the tournament is 16 strokes better than her previous career-best performance.
“I want to cry. I want to cry tears of happiness. I’m proud of myself, proud of everyone that’s helped me get to this point. It came just short, but I know that I’ll be back so I’m really happy.”
Japan’s Mao Saigo (64), Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (68), England’s Charley Hull (67), South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim (67) and Australia’s Lydia Ko (66) finished in a five-way tie for third place at 15-under. Ko won the tournament in 2015.
Two-time major champion So Yeon Ryu of South Korea was unable to build off the momentum of her sterling third round. She shot a 73 on Sunday to finish in a tie for eighth place with a group that included Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko (69) and No. 3 Nelly Korda (69).
–Field Level Media
