Japanese golfer Ayaka Furue claimed her first major title Sunday with a dramatic one-stroke victory at the Amundi Evian Championship.
Furue drained an eagle putt on the par-5 18th to finish at 6-under 65 for the final round and 19 under for the tournament at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
The 24-year-old, who started the day one shot off the pace, added six birdies against a pair of bogeys on the way to securing the $1.2 million winner’s check.
She finished ahead of Australian overnight leader Stephanie Kyriacou, who closed with a 67, and Patty Tavatanakit a further stroke back in third after the Thai went low on Sunday with a 63.
“I’m unbelievably happy,” Furue said. “I had to play patiently through the 15th hole, but I believed in myself and saw it through to the end. I got a lot of birdies and was able to elevate my game at the end.”
The victory is Furue’s second on the LPGA Tour, coming after her 2022 Scottish Open crown. It is the fourth major win by a Japanese golfer in LPGA history, following Hisako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship, Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 Women’s British Open and Yuka Saso at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2021 and 2024.
The native of Kobe in western Japan is the second Japanese player to win a major this season, joining Saso, who captured her second U.S. Women’s Open trophy last month.
“I didn’t imagine it at all because I didn’t get any major titles in Japan, on the JLPGA, and I didn’t really think about doing this on the LPGA,” Furue said.
“I feel so honored to be the winner of a major championship, but I feel like I put in the effort to win every tournament.”
Akie Iwai was next-best among the Japanese in Evian, tying for 10th at 9 under following a final-round 68.
Ayaka Furue of Japan reacts after making an eagle putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Evian Championship golf tournament at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 14, 2024.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
