Yoo Hae-ran becomes 'Major Queen' with stunning 10-stroke comeback win

Yoo Hae-ran has been crowned the "Queen of Majors" after clinching her first major championship title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The South Korean golfer secured her victory with a final score of 13-under-par 275, holding off compatriot Yoon Ina by two strokes.

Her triumph marks a remarkable comeback, as Yoo trailed the leader by a significant 10 strokes after the first round. Her remarkable performance saw her climb the leaderboard with impressive scores in the subsequent rounds, ultimately achieving the largest comeback in the tournament's history. This feat also ties the record for the largest comeback in a women's major, last seen in 1964.

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I've challenged for major titles many times but couldn't achieve my goals, and today I finally did it. It feels like a dream.

The final round was not without its challenges, as severe weather, including thunder and lightning, caused significant delays. Play was further hampered by strong winds, testing the resilience of the players. Yoo herself faced difficulties in the early part of her round, but she rallied with crucial birdies to regain the lead and maintain a steady performance through the back nine.

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It's amazing and happy that I will be called 'Major Champion Yoo Hae-ran' during player introductions from now on.

This victory adds another chapter to the strong legacy of South Korean golfers at this prestigious event. Yoo's win follows in the footsteps of previous champions like Park Se-ri, Park In-bee, and Sung Hyun Park. The tournament also saw a strong collective performance from South Korean players, with four golfers finishing within the top 10.

Beyond the trophy, Yoo will receive a substantial prize of $1.95 million, part of the tournament's record-breaking $13 million purse, the largest in women's golf history. This win comes after a period of recovery for Yoo, who had to withdraw from the U.S. Women's Open due to surgery.

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Thanks to resting well and eating the food my mom made, I think I was able to achieve a good result in this tournament.