Brooke Henderson, who led by 5 strokes halfway by way of the third spherical and nonetheless held a two-shot benefit at the beginning of motion on Sunday, claimed victory within the Evian Championship – however the last spherical had loads of drama.
The 24-year-old Canadian turned the second golfer to win a significant championship with a four-putt in 2022 – however whereas Scottie Scheffler’s errors on the ultimate inexperienced within the Masters prompted laughter, Henderson’s quartet of strokes on the sixth inexperienced on the Evian Resort in south-eastern France had been met with horrified silence.
Inside minutes she had been caught by Nelly Korda and inside an hour six golfers shared the lead. A Henderson rout had became a frantic cavalry cost and most gamers not solely caught, however embarrassed within the course of, would have wilted not to mention recovered to submit a 17-under complete of 267.
Henderson parried blows from Japan’s Mao Saigo (taking part in in simply her third main), Lydia Ko, Charley Hull, Kim Hyo-Joo and Carlota Ciganda who all completed on 15 underneath. Sei Younger Kim additionally threatened earlier than a late collapse.
Korda, in the meantime, skilled a outstanding day. On the sixth a fan picked up her errant method shot and waved it round like a prize in a raffle. It was changed however she posted a double bogey. Three holes later she drained a bunker shot for an eagle to hit the highest earlier than taking part in the again 9 in limp style.
It was left to the rookie Sophia Schubert to offer the best take a look at of Henderson’s resolve. The 26-year-old had by no means completed within the high 10 at this stage but negotiated the entrance 9 in calm style, eased freed from the pack with three back-nine birdies, and had 12 ft for one more on the final. It refused to drop however she claimed second alone on 16 underneath.
Halfway by way of the again 9 Henderson’s eyes had narrowed, an indication that her focus had returned. Birdies at 14 and 15 drew her stage with Schubert, then she transformed a successful birdie from 10ft on the ultimate inexperienced with a straightforwardness that made a mockery of her travails 12 holes earlier.
“I used to be taking part in poorly however I used to be nonetheless in it,” she mentioned of her chaotic entrance 9. “The saying is that majors are received on the again 9 on Sunday so I stored reminding myself of that.” Such readability within the wake of the grisly four-putt meant the second main victory of her profession was hers.
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