Woodlands, Texas – Mao Saigo was shaking nervously before hitting a birdie putt on the first hole of Sunday’s 5-way playoffs at the Chevron Championship.
The 23-year-old Japanese player was able to form himself in time to sink three footers and win his first major title.
“I did my best to calm down, I shot, and it came in,” she said in Japanese through an interpreter.
Saigo birded par 5 18th place in a 2-under 74 regulation, tied up with Hyo Ju Kim, Luning Yin, Aliya Jutanugaan and Lindy Duncan. They finished at the Carlton Woods club at 7 under 281.
Saigo won the playoffs on the 18th after Yin and Jutanugaan ripped out birdie. Jutanugarn bogeyed the 18th in regulation after scowling his third shot just a few inches.
Jutanugarn led most of the final round before her later gaffe after making two birdies and one eagle on the front nine.
“The Front Nine was very solid, especially with the Eagle, but there are nine couple mistakes in the par 5 I made. Two bogeys,” she said.
Yin and Yang were in their best position in the playoffs after reaching the green with two shots. However, she missed the 12-foot Eagle Putt and her cambucker for birdies slowly escaped to set up Saigo for victory.
Saigo won the LPGA Tour for the first time. She was the tour’s rookie of the year last season. She is the first Japanese winner in the event and the fifth major champion. She has won six tours on Japan and has won five in 2022.
The victory comes after finishing runners-up at the CPKC Women’s Open and Buick LPGA Shanghai last year.
“Last year, it was a very intense competition,” she said. “I was very close, but I couldn’t make it. That was a very disappointing experience. I was able to win and win the LPGA title this year and I’m very excited about this.”
Duncan, 34, bogeys the playoff hole and was short in more than a decade of quest to win her first title. However, she was still happy with her overall performance.
“Yeah, top five majors, it’s always incredible. Have a chance and feel the nerves,” she said. “And I feel like there’s some things to learn about my swing and how to handle things like that. I look back on it (but) yeah, but a few weeks.”
It’s the first time in three years that the tournament has ended in the playoffs after American Lilia Vu birded the first extra hole he won in 2023.
Saigo took home $1.2 million from his $8 million wallet.
The winner has been jumping into Poppy Pond from the 18th green in Mission Hills since 1988. Saigo became third in Texas by diving into brown water. She screamed and smiled as she went hand in hand with the two members of her team.
This experience has become a bit disastrous for Saigo, who said she wasn’t a very good swimmer.
“When I went inside it was deep and at first I was thinking about owning,” she said.
Saigo entered the day when he united with Harlan Ryu at 9 under. But she was behind before 18th hole was drilled five holes on Sunday and got her spot in the playoffs to set up a thrilling finish.
Top-ranked Nelly Corda shot a 70 and placed 14th at 2 under. Winning this season, she won the last final event last year, with five consecutive wins.
“Obviously, I have a lot to work on,” she said. “Last year was last year. It was such a great year, but it’s the past. I can’t help my future.”