Haeran Ryu rides new putter to victory at stunning LPGA Black Desert Championship

USA Today

04-05-2025

Haeran Ryu rides new putter to victory at stunning LPGA Black Desert Championship
Haeran Ryu chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole of the Chevron Championship, her first of the season. It was the lone highlight of a dreadful 76, but it foreshadowed things to come.
Ryu recorded an eagle in each of her last three rounds at the inaugural Black Desert Championship, boosting her to a commanding five-shot victory in stunning Ivins, Utah. It marks the third career victory for South Korea's Ryu, who put a new putter – the Spider ZT Proto – in the bag ahead of the Chevron Championship.
"I think I'm little crazy because I switch the putter on the major week," said Ryu, "but my feel was so good at there. I can just more trust for my putt and I change my putter. That's good."
This victory marks the first time that Ryu has converted a 54-hole lead in her fifth attempt. Ryu held the 54-hole lead in each of the last two Chevrons, carding a 74 and 76.
"Last week on final round my shot is so bad there, so I just call my Korean coach every day. I ask him, what's the problem? What's it mean? What's the problem for me?" said Ryu. "He said, no problem, Haeran. Just keep focus and keep calm and more trust your golf."
The vote of confidence helped Ryu, one of the best ball-strikers on tour, go on to become the second wire-to-wire winner with no ties of the season. The $450,000 winner's check gives Ryu more than $5 million in career earnings.
"Every holes I always just pray for God, please go straight and no rock," said Ryu of the striking but punishing scenery. "Please keep in fairway."
Ryu didn't miss a fairway on Sunday and took 27 putts.
Germany's Esther Henseleit came out of the gates strong on Sunday morning, recording five birdies in a front-nine 31. She couldn't keep up the pace, however, as she didn't make another birdie on the back nine until the 18th. Henseleit finished in a share of second with Ruoning Yin at 21 under. Yin, who lost in a five-way playoff at last week's Chevron, recorded six birdies on the back nine Sunday but hit a speed bump with a double on the par-4 16th.
Henseleit, 26, has yet to win on the LPGA but did collect a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After making double bogey on the 18th hole both Friday and Saturday after wayward tee shots, her fiancé/coach showed her videos of her clutch shots off the tee in Paris ahead of Sunday's final round in Utah.
"I think he is always a bit more nervous than I am," said Henseleit with a laugh, "so I think he was a bit nervous this morning. I was actually pretty calm."
After a tough loss at the Chevron last week that included a near whiff, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn took a share of sixth.