Haeran Ryu turned the Amundi Evian Championship into a record book performance on Saturday, shooting an 11-under 60 to move to 19 under and take a three-shot lead after the third round.
The round broke the previous Evian Championship low mark of 61, a score that had been reached by Hyo Joo Kim in 2014 and later by Jeong-eun Lee6 and Leona Maguire in 2021. It also set the lowest round in major championship history, giving Ryu a place in a new kind of tournament spotlight.
A remarkable run to the lead
Ryu's charge was steady as well as explosive. She had nine birdies and one eagle in the round, including a 30-foot putt on the par-four sixth hole that helped fuel the momentum. By the time she finished, she was standing on top of the leaderboard with a three-shot cushion.
Ryu's reaction made clear how much the round meant. After the putt, she and her caddie counted up the score, and she said, “Oh my God, it's 11-under par today.” She added that it was “so amazing” and that she was “so happy right now.” She also called the prospect of back-to-back major wins “an amazing dream.”
That possibility is very real after her win two weeks ago at the Women's PGA Championship, her first major title. Now she has a chance to chase a second straight major at the fourth women's major of the season, with one round left to play.
Chasing Ryu on Sunday
Ryu was not the only player still in the picture. Akie Iwai, Mao Saigo and Brooke Henderson remained in contention after the third round, setting up a final day with several challengers still within range. Ryu acknowledged that challenge, saying she wants the dream to come true, but noting that “we have one more day and Akie is a pretty good player. Everybody is so good.”
Saturday also brought a sharp change for Lottie Woad, who shot one-over 72 and dropped from first to tied sixth. She finished nine strokes off the lead, a reminder of how quickly the leaderboard can change when someone posts a historic round.
For Ryu, though, the math is simple. She already has nine professional wins, and now she heads into the final round with a record-setting score and a three-shot lead at the Amundi Evian Championship.
