Mao Saigo of Funabashi, Japan made women’s golf history on Sunday. That is because she won the largest playoff ever in LPGA major championship history, a playoff that included five golfers, to win the 2025 Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas. The playoff was also the largest in major championship history. The most players who ever participated in a men’s major golf tournament is three.
There were also five different countries represented in the playoff. Joining Saigo were Lindy Duncan of the United States, 2016 Women’s British Open champion and 2018 United States Women’s Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, 2014 Evian Championship winner Hyo-joo Kim of South Korea, and 2023 Women’s PGA Championship winner Ruoning Yin of China.
Saigo, Duncan, Jutanugarn, Kim, and Yin entered the playoff at -7. On the first extra hole, Saigo recorded a birdie, Jutanugarn, Kim and Yin recorded a par, and Duncan registered a bogey.
Saigo, was the co-leader of the 2025 Chevron Championship after round three. She was tied at -9 along with Hae-ran Ryu of Seoul, South Korea. Both Saigo and Ryu were both over par on Sunday. Saigo was +2, and Ryu finished at -5, after a fourth round score of +4, despite a remarkable eagle on the 18th hole.
Speaking about the 18th hole, Jutanugarn was in the driver’s seat to win the title in regulation on Sunday. However, the golf ball only went three inches on one of her chip shot attempts. Jutanugarn had to settle for bogey, and thus we had a large playoff.
Seven other golfers were in contention. Joining Ryu at -5 were 2019 ANA Inspiration winner and 2019 Evian Championship winner Jin-young Ko of South Korea, and American Sarah Schmelzel. There was then a four-way tie for ninth place at -4. There you could find China’s Yan Liu, Spain’s Charlotte Ciganda, South Korea’s Hye-jin Choi, and Belgium’s Manon De Roey.
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