Japan’s Mao Saigo captured her first major title at the Chevron Championship, sinking a 0.9-metre birdie putt on the first hole of a five-way play-off.
Saigo birdied the par-5 18th during regulation play, carding a 2-under 74 to finish tied at 7-under 281 with Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Lindy Duncan at The Club at Carlton Woods.
In the play-off, Saigo clinched victory on the 18th after Yin and Jutanugarn saw their birdie putts narrowly miss. Jutanugarn had bogeyed the 18th in regulation following a stubbed chip from deep rough.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, a strong contender heading into the final round, closed with a disappointing 2-over 74, finishing tied for 14th, five shots behind the leaders.
Steph Kyriacou was the next best Australian, ending in a tie for 30th at 2-over for the tournament. Cassie Porter finished T40, Gabi Ruffels T44 at 4-over, while Grace Kim tied for 59th. Hannah Green and Hira Naveed missed the cut.
Saigo, who was named LPGA Rookie of the Year last season, became the first Japanese player to win this tournament and the fifth Japanese golfer to claim a major title. She had previously won six titles on the Japanese tour, with five victories in 2022.
Lindy Duncan, aged 34, bogeyed the play-off hole, extending her pursuit of a first professional win.
This was the second time in three years the Chevron Championship ended in a play-off, with American Lilia Vu winning similarly in 2023.
Saigo earned $1.2 million from the $US8 million ($12.53 million) prize pool, which was $100,000 more than the previous year’s purse.
Continuing the event’s tradition, Saigo jumped into Poppie’s Pond — a ritual since 1988 at Mission Hills — now held in Texas. Holding hands with two team members, she laughed and shrieked as they leapt into the brown-tinted water.
Starting Sunday tied with Haeran Ryu at 9-under, Saigo bogeyed five holes before her birdie at the 18th secured her spot in the play-off and eventual win.
Top-ranked Nelly Korda, last year’s champion, shot a 70 to also finish tied for 14th at 2-under. Korda has yet to win an event this season after her five consecutive victories in 2023.
