Yoo He-ran wins US Women's Open, first Korean major champion in 62 years

Korean golfer Yoo He-ran captured the KPMG US Women’s Open at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, rallying from a ten‑stroke deficit after the first round to finish at 13 under par. Her final‑round 70 secured the title, making her the first Korean to win a women’s major since Carol Mann’s 1964 Western Women’s Open.

Yoo returned from a recent abdominal injury and missed the Cloroxa Queen City Championship and the US Open three weeks earlier. The victory follows a season in which she has won a tournament each year since her rookie‑of‑the‑year award in 2023. Japanese player Shihō Kuwaki, also competing at Hazeltine, posted a 72 to finish 24th, gaining confidence and eyeing future US‑tour opportunities. Kuwaki plans to play in the upcoming Amundi Evian Championship in France and the AIG Women’s Open in England, with the goal of securing a spot on the LPGA Tour.

The tournament featured a strong international field, including 21 Korean competitors and several Japanese golfers, underscoring the growing global depth of women’s professional golf.