Coughlin’s Key Moments
Tied for the lead after Ryu three-putted for bogey on the par-four 16th, Coughlin hit a six-iron to eight feet and birdied the 195-yard 17th. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum in Coughlin’s favor. Ryu then missed a three-foot par try to fall two shots back. “It was kind of a ‘tweener of a club,” Coughlin said. “I could really only hit six and I needed to take some off it or else it might have gone over, especially considering how jacked up I was at the time. But I hit it pretty perfect and, the putt, I thought it was almost going to stay out to the left there and just dove right at the last second. It was huge.”
Ryu’s Struggles in the Final Holes
Ryu also bogeyed the 18th in a 75 that left her tied for third with Jenny Shin (67) at 10 under. “I can only remember my mistakes from the last couple holes, but there is always next time,” Ryu said. Despite her challenges, Ryu had her second straight top-three finish, showing consistency in her performance. The 23-year-old South Korean was second last week in Ohio in the Dana Open. She won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year for her first tour title. “I’ll do my best next,” Ryu remarked.
Cool, calm and collecting trophies @LCisHOOSgolfin 🫶 #LPGAWinnerSelfie pic.twitter.com/mv5wvIVBxs
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 29, 2024
Overall Tournament Highlights
Coughlin, the leader after each of the first two rounds, began the day a shot behind Ryu. She birdied the par-three fifth, bogeyed the par-four sixth and 10th, and birdied the par-five 15th. The 31-year-old former University of Virginia player was coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in France in the Evian Championship. “I think just my story in general just shows that I’m always trying, always willing to try to do things,” Coughlin said. “I am willing to stay in it. I don’t give up. I think I showed that perfectly today.”
For the first time, @LCisHOOSgolfin is an LPGA Tour champion! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5D21XUf1g1
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 29, 2024
Coughlin is in position to play for the United States in her home-state Solheim Cup in September at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. She won on her 103rd LPGA Tour start. “I don’t even really know how to describe it,” she added. “I’ve had people believe in me for a really long time, and I wouldn’t be here without their push and love.”
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, finished with a 68 to tie for eighth at six under. On Friday, she bogeyed the final four holes in a 73 that left her seven shots back going into the weekend. “I feel like I’m right there,” Henderson said. “Great days like yesterday and today, total minus-seven, so if I cleaned up the first two days a little bit, I could have been right in the mix.”
