Japan's Mao Saigo Wins Playoff For LPGA Chevron Title & First Major Victory
AFP
Mao Saigo sank a tension-packed birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation to fire a final-round two-over par 74 at Carlton Woods.
Japan's Mao Saigo birdied the first extra hole to win a five-woman playoff and capture her first major title on Sunday at the LPGA Chevron Championship.
Saigo sank a tension-packed birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation to fire a final-round two-over par 74 at Carlton Woods and finish 72 holes on seven-under 281 just to reach the playoff.
At the 18th again in the playoff, Saigo sank a four-foot birdie putt to capture the crown after clutch putt misses by her rivals.
The first major of the year goes to Mao Saigo ☝️ pic.twitter.com/WVYcNL4hE1 — LPGA (@LPGA) April 27, 2025
Saigo, a 23-year-old who was last year's LPGA Rookie of the Year, defeated China's Yin Ruoning, South Korean Kim Hyo-joo, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and American Lindy Duncan in the playoff.
'It was my dream to earn this major. I was able to realise my dream and I'm very happy," Saigo said.
'It means a lot that I made a birdie putt on 18. That gave me more confidence for the playoffs."
Saigo plans to carry that confidence boost into the remainder of the campaign.
'I'm extremely excited," she said. 'I still have four more majors to go, and I want to shoot for number one in the world."
The playoff was at the par-five 18th, and Yin reached the green in two by blasting over a water hazard. Saigo and Ariya each went over the green with their second shots, Duncan was short of the green in three, and Kim found the green near Yin's ball with her third shot.
Ariya and Saigo missed their eagle bids, setting the stage for Yin's eagle attempt to win from about 12 feet. It went eight feet past the hole as tension mounted.
Kim missed her birdie putt, Duncan missed a 10-foot par putt and tapped in for bogey, then Yin lipped out a birdie putt and tapped in for par.
Ariya lipped out on her eight-foot birdie putt and tapped in for par, leaving Saigo to sink her four-foot birdie for the triumph.
'I was shaking from nervousness, but I did my best to calm down, and I shot, and it went in," Saigo said.
Ariya had botched a chip on the 72nd hole in regulation and made a bogey that dropped her into a share of the lead, helping to deny her a third major victory and first in seven years.
'Overall, I'm very happy," Ariya said. 'Back nine just a couple mistakes, but I did well the rest of the tournament. It has built my confidence for the rest of the season for sure."
Yin and Kim each sought a second career major while Duncan settled for her first top-10 major finish.
Saigo had more tense moments after the victory when she took the traditional winner's leap into a pond.
'I'm not a good swimmer," she said. 'When I went inside, it was deep and at first I thought I was going to drown."
She's less worried about celebrating and more concerned about keeping her focus for upcoming events.
'Next week and the week after, I need to be in the zone for the tournaments," she said. 'I'm so happy I can't even think about how I'm going to celebrate. Off the top of my head, I want my manager to cook something really good and then give me some rest."
Ariya led by a stroke at the 18th tee in regulation and blasted her second shot from the fairway over the green and off the grandstand.
Stunningly, she then missed-hit a chip from the rough that barely moved the ball before sending her fourth shot 15 feet beyond the hole. She missed the comeback attempt and made a bogey, falling into a share of the lead with Kim and Yin.
Saigo and Duncan each birdied the 18th to reach the playoff.
First Published:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Kildunne confident Women's Rugby World Cup 'heartbreak' can inspire England to glory
England star Ellie Kildunne believes the tournament hosts are "more than ready" to put an end to their Women's Rugby World Cup "heartbreak" as they seek to win the one trophy that has eluded them for so long. Kildunne confident Women's Rugby World Cup 'heartbreak' can inspire England to glory Host nation England head into the event as favourites, having lost only once in their past 58 matches - a defeat by New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final in which Kildunne played. England, top of the world rankings, have won six successive Six Nations Grand Slams and also defeated New Zealand's Black Ferns in each of the teams' past three meetings. Yet they have lost five of the last six World Cup finals to New Zealand, with 2014 when England beat Canada in the showpiece match their most recent global 15-a-side title. But for 25-year-old full-back Kildunne, this year's edition is an opportunity to put things right, with England launching the tournament against the United States in Sunderland on Friday, . "We've been building to this moment for the past three years since the last World Cup and we're more than ready," she told AFP in an interview in London. Kildunne, now fully recovered from a leg injury, added: "When the last World Cup happened obviously it was heartbreak, it was heavy and that's only because we wanted it, that's because we cared about it so much. "And when you're out in New Zealand you have no idea what else is going on outside of the world. "I felt a bit of guilt that I thought we were going to change women's sports, women's rugby if we won and it felt heavy when we didn't. "But when we came back to England, I realised it was already changed, we'd already made an impact." Professional women's sport is on the rise in England and in June, the Lionesses the women's national football team retained their European Championship title by beating world champions Spain in a penalty shoot-out in the final in Basel. "We've learned so much from that and how much hard work and how sometimes it doesn't look pretty," said Kildunne, a brand ambassador for leading rugby kit supplier Canterbury. "But if you believe, if you've got that grit about you, if you really want something, you can make anything achievable. And that's something that I definitely learned from ." Kildunne, the reigning women's World Rugby player of the year, has scored an exceptional 41 tries in 53 Tests for England and is one of the most high-profile figures in her sport, as reflected by a large following on Instagram. But the charismatic Kildunne was clear on how she maintained a balance between her life on and off the field. "When I'm in rugby mode, I'm in rugby mode," she said. "When I'm away from rugby, I'm away from rugby, and I still have the rugby thoughts are going on in my head. "Sometimes it might be nine o'clock at night and suddenly I think of a new move and I'm like I need to message the coach because I've just thought of this move because I'm obsessed. "Rugby is the priority, always will be the priority and I wouldn't have the social media following that I have got if it wasn't for the rugby." The Red Roses, as the England women's rugby team are known, appointed New Zealand's John Mitchell as their coach in 2023 in a bid to help them take the elusive last step to World Cup glory. Mitchell, a former head coach of the men's All Blacks, has a reputation for being a stern disciplinarian but Kildunne said she had seen another side of the 61-year-old's character. "I love is not afraid to be unapologetically himself and what that does is it creates an environment that's safe to be yourself, authentically yourself," she explained. "He'll tell you straight if you're getting something wrong and he wants the best for you." Kildunne added: "You trust what he's saying, you trust when he's been lighthearted and when he's been serious for a reason. "I love what he's done for the team. Coming in with such an open heart and vulnerability, that he's shown, allows us as players to give that back to him." jdg/nr HOST HOTELS & RESORTS This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Fitness influencer blasts Nike-backed Smithsonian exhibit on Lia Thomas sparking debate over transgender athlete fairness
Fitness influencer blasts Nike-backed Smithsonian exhibit on Lia Thomas sparking debate over transgender athlete fairness (Image via Getty) Lia Thomas, the former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, is at the heart of a fight over fairness and science. In August 2025, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History opened an exhibit called 'Change Your Game'. The exhibit asks visitors if they think Lia Thomas competing on the women's team is fair or foul. It also explains how gender testing works in sports. This show got heat because sponsor Nike is involved, and fitness star Jillian Michaels called it out on CNN. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump asked for a full check of all Smithsonian exhibits ahead of the country's 250th birthday. Lia Thomas in Nike-funded Smithsonian exhibit sparks fairness debate Lia Thomas was on the University of Pennsylvania's women's swim team in early 2022. The 'Change Your Game' exhibit at the Smithsonian asks visitors to pick if her presence is 'fair or foul.' It also explains gender testing, like using cheek swabs to check for a Y chromosome, which World Athletics is starting to use to decide who can compete in women's events. Fitness influencer Jillian Michaels spoke about it on CNN and said, 'It's not complex. It's basic science. Is it fair to have biological men competing against biological women in sports? No, but why is this in the Smithsonian?' Outkick Sports and XX-XY Athletics also pointed out Nike's role. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If A Cat Bites Their Owner Heres What It Really Means Gloriousa Undo Dan Zaksheske from Outkick asked, 'Why does a company that claims to support and lift female athletes refuse to condemn males competing in women's sports?' He added, 'Unless, of course, Nike isn't really as interested in promoting women's sports as they are in promoting left-wing talking points.' Also Read: 'Bring Me A Cute Labubu': Ben Shelton's Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Joins Coco Gauff And Iga Swiatek In Viral Doll Craze Donald Trump orders Smithsonian review amid trans athlete controversy The exhibit is partly paid for by Nike. That drew sharp criticism from conservatives who said the company talks about women's sports but supports an exhibit they find unfair. This all comes as President Donald Trump launched a review of Smithsonian exhibits. On August 12, 2025, the White House sent a letter asking for a 'comprehensive internal review' to make sure exhibits match a strong, united view of America and steer clear of anything divisive. That review includes the 'Change Your Game' exhibit in the National Museum of American History. Trump's team said they want to look at tone, how history is framed, and whether exhibits celebrate American ideals. Some civil rights leaders said this review could erase important stories in American history but that's a whole different story. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
'Bring me a cute Labubu': Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman joins Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek in viral doll craze
Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman joins Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek in viral doll craze (Image via Getty) Cori Dionne Gauff, better known as Coco Gauff, and Iga Natalia Swiatek have now joined the Labubu craze. These small, fuzzy dolls from the Chinese brand Pop Mart have taken the sports world by storm. On August 13, Coco Gauff unboxed her very first Labubu in a video posted by WTA Tennis. Just a day later, Iga Swiatek also got hers. Now, the trend has reached American soccer star Trinity Rodman. The Racing Louisville forward, who is dating American tennis player Ben Shelton, made an adorable request to her fans, asking them to bring her a Labubu for good luck during her upcoming match. Trinity Rodman Joins the craze while Ben Shelton shines in Cincinnati While the dolls were making tennis fans smile, Ben Shelton was busy making headlines on court. The 22-year-old American is currently playing at the Cincinnati Open after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto on August 11. He is on a nine-match winning streak across North America and has not dropped a set in Cincinnati. On August 15, he beat Jiri Lehecka in straight sets in just 81 minutes to reach the quarterfinals. Trinity Rodman, who has been supporting Shelton courtside, also has her own big match coming up for Racing Louisville. On August 15, ahead of Shelton's next match, she posted an Instagram Story asking fans to bring her a Labubu doll instead of the usual candies. She wrote: 'Plz plz instead of candy can someone bring me a cute labubu to the game tmr i will die.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why You Need Temperature Control Sensors for Efficiency - Learn More AskLayers Learn More Undo Her playful message quickly spread online, showing how this light-hearted trend has now crossed from tennis into soccer. With Shelton preparing to face Alexander Zverev next, both he and Rodman will be looking for a little extra luck, maybe in the form of a fluffy Labubu. Also Read: 'Trump Let This Convicted Killer Free': Martina Navratilova Criticizes Donald Trump After Venezuela Prisoner Swap Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek's Labubu moments The fun started when Coco Gauff received her first Labubu on August 13 during the hard-court swing in North America. The WTA shared the moment on Instagram, showing Gauff smiling and laughing as she opened the box. The next day, August 14, Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1 from Poland, unboxed her own Labubu in another WTA video. Labubu dolls are part of a 'blind box' collectable series made by Pop Mart. Each doll costs about US $40 and is sold without revealing the exact design inside. This mystery element, mixed with their cute yet odd look, has made them a huge hit on social media. Fans across tennis are now hunting for them, and players are proudly showing theirs off. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
