Yu Hae-ran wins major title two weeks after returning from injury: 'I didn't expect this'

"I was coming back from a month off, so winning wasn't my goal. That's why I didn't feel anxious even when my first round didn't go well."

Yu Hae-ran had been resting after an injury when she returned to the LPGA Tour and won her first major title in her comeback event. She had been focused on getting healthy, not on contending, which made the victory all the more unexpected.

Speaking in a video interview on Tuesday, the day after lifting the KPMG Women's PGA Championship trophy, Yu said she had returned to South Korea to rest after a minor health issue following her runner-up finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship last month. "For the first three weeks, I couldn't even pick up a club," she said. "I just focused on resting."

"It was the first time since I started playing golf that I had gone that long without practicing — the longest break I'd had before was about three days," she said. "I started practicing two weeks before the tournament, and my coach back home encouraged me, saying there shouldn't be any major problems. That helped me approach the week with a relaxed mindset."

Yu credited the extended rest not only for her physical recovery but also for the mental clarity it gave her heading into the week.

After the first round, Yu switched back to her old putter. She said the decision was easier to make because she felt little pressure about results. During her injury break she had been considering trying a new putter, and she brought it to the tournament.

It did not work out. On Thursday, she shot a 1-over-par 73 at Hazeltine National Golf Club (par 72) in Chaska, Minnesota, leaving her 10 strokes behind first-round leader Yun I-na, who carded a 9-under-par 63.

After the round, Yu pulled out the putter she had been using since January. "I switched out of curiosity, but after just one day I thought, 'the old one is better,'" she said. "I played the rest of the tournament with my original putter."

The decision paid off. Yu shot an 8-under-par 64 in the second round and a 4-under-par 68 in the third, mounting a dramatic charge. She then shaved two more strokes in the final round to finish at 13-under-par 275 — two shots clear of Yun (11-under 277) — and claim the title.

According to tournament organizers, it was the first time in 60 years on the LPGA Tour that a player had won after trailing by 10 strokes after the first round. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this week, so I still can't tell if it's a dream or reality," Yu said with a laugh.

Yu had not originally planned to bring her mother to the tournament. She shared the winning moment with her on the course. "My mother said she would come with me to the major because I had been dealing with a health issue, so I brought her along," Yu said. "It happened to turn out well."

The victory — her first major and her first win of the season — left Yu looking ahead to the rest of the year with renewed optimism.

Yu has won at least once every season since her LPGA Tour debut in 2023. "Ever since I was playing in Korea, I've never finished a season without a win, so my goal every year has been 'one win,'" she said. "This year I reached that goal earlier than expected — and at a major — so I feel at ease."

"Right now I'm going to enjoy this moment," she added. "I'll rest here in the United States for a bit and then focus on preparing for next month's Evian Championship," which carries a purse of $9.1 million.