Latest news with #EvianChampionship
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Career Grand Slam still on Lydia Ko's mind as US Open looms
Lydia Ko hits a tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the Ford Championship in Chandler, Arizona, 29 March 2025. Photo: AFP Lydia Ko with the trophy after winning the HSBC Women's Championship golf tournament at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. Photo: AFP / Roslan Rahman Dame Lydia Ko admits the prospect of achieving a career grand slam is providing some motivation as she seeks a landmark fourth golf major. The Kiwi and third-ranked woman is vying for a first ever win at the US Open which begins overnight (NZT) at Erin Hills, Wisconsin. A fourth major trophy and 24th LPGA tour win for the 28-year-old would see her become just the eighth woman to complete a career grand slam. A career grand slam on the LPGA Tour is when a player wins four of the five major championships over the course of a career. Dame Lydia is one major away following victories at the Evian Championship (2015), the Chevron Championship (2016) and last year's Women's Open at St Andrews. Speaking to media before the tournament, Dame Lydia suggested the window to achieve the feat was not getting any bigger. "I'm probably going to have less chances at playing these majors, than how many I've played so far ," she said. "As long I'm playing I think it's always good to have a goal so that when I'm working on things I'm always going forward and not trying to think 'oh I did this so like who cares'. "It's just more to keep myself more motivated." Her previous best performance at the championship was back in 2016 when she finished the tournament in a tie for third with four-under. Last year she failed to make the cut. The championship at Erin Hills is one of two potential opportunities for Dame Lydia to make history. Should she not win at the US Open, a career grand slam could still be achieved if she plays in next month's Women's PGA Championship. Dame Lydia could also win a golden slam if she could knock off the two remaining majors, to go alongside her gold medal at last year's Paris Olympics. Although she admits the accolades and silverware have kept her hungry, there would be no regrets if she did not get there. "Even if I never win a US Women's Open, I don't think I'm going to wake up from my sleep and go 'I never won,'" she said. "I'm obviously very proud of the things that have happened. I would be over the moon to come off with a trophy. But I don't think it's going to connect me more so to my identity later on." One thing in her favour in her bid for more golfing exploits is she has been unshackled from the pressures of reaching the LPGA Hall of Fame. "I think getting in the Hall of Fame and winning the gold at the Olympics, I think there was an internal handcuff that I had put on myself," she said. "Whether it was pressure, or expectations. I think with all that being done, I think I was able to play with a lot more freedom. I think that was a clear case at St Andrews where I was just enjoying being there and enjoying the town. "I think those things have made me feel a little bit more relaxed on the golf course."
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 (S$440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 ($440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Jeeno Thitikul earns first win of 25 at Mizuho Americas Open
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand won the Mizuho Americas Open by four shots, finishing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday to secure her first victory of the season in Jersey City, N.J. Notching her first LPGA title since the CME Group Tour Championship in November, the 22-year-old Thitikul played a bogey-free round at windy Liberty National Golf Club to beat France's Celine Boutier and finish at 17-under 271. "I have no idea how I can do out there," said Thitikul, who sank three birdies in the final round for her fifth LPGA Tour victory. "I mean, bogey-free on the final round, final group as well, because the pin positions were so tough today as well. We got a lot of wind, and then a lot of nerves and excitement for sure." Thitikul took home $450,000, which put her over $1 million for the season and back in the lead for the Race to CME Globe. Boutier, who entered the final round trailing by one shot, was seeking her first victory since she won four events in 2023, including back-to-back titles at the Evian Championship and Women's Scottish Open and a playoff win over Thitikul at the Maybank Championship. However, Boutier's three bogeys proved costly as she shot an even-par 72 and went 13-under 275 for the week. "Definitely a little bit disappointed with my finish today, but feel pretty happy with where my game is at," Boutier said after her third top-10 finish of the season. "Just need to tweak a few things before my next tournament, which is the U.S. Open, so it's very encouraging to have a good result here on such a good tournament." Andrea Lee (72 on Sunday) and Spain's Carlota Ciganda (70) finished in a tie for third at 12-under 276. One shot behind them was the trio of World No. 1 Nelly Korda (73) -- who won the event last year -- along with Yealimi Noh (72) and Australia's Stephanie Kyriacou (67). "I'm pretty happy with where the game is at," Lee said after her second straight top-10 finish. "Obviously a little bit disappointing today. Just couldn't really get anything going. But I stayed super patient out there, tried to stay positive, and I feel like I just played really solid golf but couldn't get any momentum today. But yeah, overall just super satisfied." Korda remained winless on the year, but was within one shot of Thitikul until she bogeyed the par-4 ninth hole. On the back nine, Korda fell out of contention due to a pair of bogeys and no birdies.
Korea Herald
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
S. Korean LPGA veteran Kim Hyo-joo defends European Tour title at home
South Korean LPGA star Kim Hyo-joo defended her Ladies European Tour (LET) title on home soil Sunday. Kim shot seven-under 209 at the 54-hole the Aramco Korea Championship at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, on the northwestern outskirts of Seoul, for a two-shot victory over Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland. Kim earned $225,000 in the winner's check. Kim, world No. 8, carded a three-under 69 in the final round to deny Tamburlini, who put up a 68, her fourth LET title. Kim entered the final round alone at the top at four-under, one ahead of Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa. Kim stumbled a bit with a bogey at the par-3 fourth but responded with a birdie at the par-4 sixth. After a birdie at the par-3 11th, Kim also made birdies on both of the two par-5 holes on the back nine, the 13th and the 17th. Tamburlini, who won three LET tournaments in 2024, made her final round charge with five birdies on the front nine but had just one more birdie the rest of the way to settle for second place. South Korean amateur Park Seo-jin finished in third place at four-under 212 after pouring in eight birdies en route to a 65 on Sunday. Kim won last year's event in wire-to-wire fashion, as the LET made its South Korea debut. This was Kim's third LET victory, with her first having come at the 2014 Evian Championship, an LPGA major co-sanctioned by the LET.
