Ryu sets major record as Woad struggles
Ryu 60 round sets historic major record as she fires a 60‑stroke round at the Evian Championship, leading by three shots and rewriting golf history.
South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu posted a 60‑stroke round at the Evian Championship on Saturday, establishing a three‑shot lead ahead of the final day and setting a new benchmark for major championships.
Record‑breaking performance
Ryu’s 60 is the first sub‑61 score ever recorded in either a men’s or women’s major. She began with two birdies on the front nine, added an eagle on the sixth hole and continued with birdies on the seventh and ninth, finishing the front nine at 29 – matching the best nine‑hole total ever posted at the Evian Resort Golf Club.
On the back nine she added five more birdies, narrowly missing an eagle putt on the 18th that would have produced a 59, the second such round in LPGA Tour history. After the birdie on the 18th, she realized the score, recounting, “I never knew… I counted my score as a 60, I was shocked with my caddie… oh my god, it’s 11 under‑par today.”
Leaders stumble as the field reshuffles
England’s Lottie Woad entered Saturday holding a one‑stroke advantage but faltered, carding a one‑over‑par 73. After two birdies and a bogey on the front nine, an errant drive on the 10th produced a bogey, and a mis‑hit on the 14th added another. She finished tied for sixth.
Fellow Briton Charley Hull also struggled, posting a level‑par 71 that left her tied for 16th, four shots behind the front‑runner. Meanwhile, Aki Iwai rose to three strokes back, becoming the main contender for Sunday.
Related: Toulouse thrash Catalans 60-18 in Magic Weekend
Canadian Brooke Henderson posted a mixed round of six birdies, two eagles and three bogeys, placing her in a tie for third. Japan’s Mao Saigo, showing steady play on the greens, also sits at 12 under‑par, seven shots off the record‑setting leader.
South African Casandra Alexander recorded a 63, her best of the year, moving to 11 under‑par and sitting just a shot behind Saigo.
While Ryu’s achievement dominates headlines, the broader context highlights how rare such low scores are in the sport’s most prestigious events. Historically, only a handful of players have breached the 60‑stroke barrier in majors, reflecting both the difficulty of the courses and the pressure of championship play. This perspective helps explain why Ryu’s round is viewed as a milestone, not merely a personal triumph.
The record will be remembered.
