KB News Desk
They say the first time is the hardest, but for Ryu Hae-ran, the second-year LPGA Tour pro from Korea, her second career victory proved to be more difficult than her first one.
Ryu defeated fellow Korean Ko Jin-young on the first playoff hole to win the inaugural FM Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts, on Sunday (local time). The two players had finished 72 holes tied at 15-under 273, and Ryu beat the former world No. 1 player with a par on the par-5 18th in the playoff.
It was Ryu’s first win since October last year in Arkansas, where she went wire-to-wire to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Ryu had some close calls this season before breaking through Sunday. In consecutive weeks in July, Ryu finished in second place at the Dana Open and then shot a three-over 75 in the final round to finish tied for third at the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada, after holding a 54-hole lead.
On Sunday, Ryu recalled being “so angry” after the Canada tournament that the usually ebullient athlete didn’t want to talk to media. She returned to Korea to work on her game and finally added her second win about a month later.
“The second win was too hard for me because this year, I got many chances before but I missed them,” Ryu said. “Today, I didn’t want to miss again. I was so nervous in the playoff. I just thank God.”
Ryu went through another angry moment after her third round at TPC Boston. She had seized a 36-hole lead after a bogey-free round of 62 on Friday, but she blew her six-stroke lead and then some by stumbling to a 78 on Saturday, with two double bogeys, five bogeys and only three birdies.
Ryu said her caddie and people in her support group did all they could to cheer her up.
“They said to me: ‘Today, it’s bad, but tomorrow, it will all come through. Just trust yourself,'” Ryu said. “After the round yesterday, I practiced my shots and putts. I was really good at the start today.”
Indeed, Ryu began the final round with four consecutive birdies to jump right back into contention, after starting off four shots behind Ko, the overnight leader.
The two were neck and neck down the stretch, and both missed birdie putts on the 72nd hole that would have clinched the title.
For the playoff, the players went back to the par-five 18th hole. Both players laid up, but Ko’s third shot from about 110 yards away went long and left of the green, after Ryu had found the green with her approach.
With Ko facing a difficult chip shot, Ryu was in a good position to seal her victory. But Ryu said she was trying to stay in the moment.
“I didn’t want to see Jin-young’s play. I thought, ‘Just play my golf,'” Ryu said. “I think that was good for the finish.”
Asked if she hoped her next victory comes a little easier, Ryu said: “I hope so. These days, I need to work harder on my putting. But it’s better than last year.”
By rebounding after a disastrous round, Ryu became the very first champion of the FM Championship, the significance of which was not lost on her.
“Wow, I’m so proud of myself,” she said. “It’s amazing. Thanks to FM and TPC Boston.” (Yonhap)
