If you blinked, you might have missed one of the most thrilling showdowns this season at the FM Championship at TPC Boston. Haeran Ryu, with a slew of top-10 finishes under her belt, finally struck gold, capturing her second LPGA Tour victory in a dramatic playoff against Jin Young Ko.
Despite a rocky start to her final round, where she plummeted from a six-shot lead to a tie for sixth, Ryu’s determination didn’t waver.
Reflecting on her third-round struggles, Ryu shared, “After the third round, I called my coach, and hey coach, my ball is going other ways except the pin, and my ball is not going right to left.
He said to me, your original ball is a fade, so tomorrow you just miss it to right and just keep right side is fine.”
With her coach’s advice in mind, Ryu started Sunday fiercely, nabbing four straight birdies early on.
She didn’t let up, adding more under-par scores on the front nine and continuing her birdie spree on the back half.
Despite a bogey on the 16th, Ryu held her ground, finishing at 15-under and heading to the playoff after Ko missed a crucial putt on the 18th.
The playoff was intense from the start, with both players opting for conservative plays on the par-5 18th.
Ryu’s third shot landed her within striking range for birdie, while Ko struggled, landing long and left.
After Ko failed to save par, Ryu, needing only a tap-in, clinched the title with her par.
Ryu expressed her feelings about the win, “Second win is too hard for me because this year I got many chances before, but I miss it, a couple times before.
But today, I don’t want to miss again. I was so nervous at the playoff, but maybe Jin Young Ko is same as me. I think just thank for God. I can’t believe it here now. Just for thank for God.”
Ko, despite the sting of defeat, took positives from the event, “I was so disappointed from last week. I really, really wanted to play on the weekend with a great golf course, but I missed the cut, and I just watched the other players play,” said Ko.
“I thought this week — I mean, I could miss the cut this week, as well. My confidence going really, really low after last week.
But who knows? I missed the cut last week, I finished second, almost win. I will take a lot of good positive things from this week in Boston.”
The FM Championship promises more excitement next year at TPC Boston, while the LPGA Tour looks ahead to the next challenge at the 2024 Solheim Cup in Virginia.
