THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Despite admitting to pre-putt jitters, 23-year-old Japanese golfer Mao Saigo successfully sank a crucial 3-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday at the Chevron Championship, securing her first career major title.
“I did my best to calm down, and I took the shot, and it went in,” Saigo said through an interpreter, reflecting on the decisive moment.
Saigo finished her final round with a 2-under 74, making a vital birdie on the par-5 18th to reach 7-under 281. This score put her in a five-way tie for the lead alongside Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Lindy Duncan at The Club at Carlton Woods.
The playoff returned to the 18th hole. Saigo`s winning birdie came after both Ruoning Yin and Ariya Jutanugarn saw their own birdie attempts just miss, lipping out of the hole. Jutanugarn, who had led for a significant part of the final round, was forced into the playoff after carding a bogey on the 18th in regulation, stemming from a very short third shot.
“The front nine was very solid, especially with the eagle, but back nine just a couple of mistakes on par 5 that I made; two bogeys,” Jutanugarn commented on her round.
This victory marks Mao Saigo`s inaugural win on the LPGA Tour. The reigning LPGA Rookie of the Year is the first Japanese player to claim the Chevron Championship title and becomes the fifth Japanese golfer to win a women`s major championship. She has previously recorded six wins on the Japanese tour, five of which came in 2022.
Saigo`s major breakthrough follows strong performances last season, where she finished as runner-up at the CPKC Women`s Open and the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
“Last year, it was a very intense competition,” she said. “I was so close but I was not able to make it. It was very disappointing. This year, I was able to win and earn the LPGA title, and I`m extremely excited about this.”
Lindy Duncan, 34, finished just short of her first LPGA title, bogeying the playoff hole. However, she expressed satisfaction with her performance in her more than a decade-long career.
“Yeah, top five in a major, any week, is unbelievable; to have a chance, feeling the nerves,” Duncan stated. “And I feel like I have some things to learn about how to handle my swing and things like that. I`ll reflect on it [but] yeah, but what a week.”
This is the second time in the last three years that the Chevron Championship has been decided by a playoff; Lilia Vu claimed the title in 2023 by birdying the first extra hole.
For her victory, Saigo took home $1.2 million from the $8 million total prize purse.
Continuing the tradition, though now at the Texas venue instead of Mission Hills, Saigo celebrated by leaping into the brown-tinged pond adjacent to the 18th green. She became the second winner to make the jump at this course, shrieking and smiling as she entered the water holding hands with members of her team.
The pond jump proved to be a slightly nerve-wracking experience for Saigo, who confessed she isn`t a strong swimmer.
“When I went inside, it was deep and at first, I thought I was going to drown,” she admitted.
Saigo had started the final round tied for the lead at 9 under par with Haeran Ryu. However, she dropped five shots with bogeys during Sunday`s play before her clutch birdie on the 18th pulled her back into contention and secured her spot in the dramatic playoff.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished her tournament with a round of 70, tying for 14th place at 2 under par. Korda, who is currently winless this season, was the defending champion of the event, having won it last year as part of her record-tying five consecutive victories.
“Obviously, I have a lot to work on,” Korda said regarding her performance. “Last year was last year. Such an amazing year, but it`s in the past. It`s not going to help me with my future.”
