Ayaka Furue, a fan of the iconic American film franchise Star Wars, found inspiration from the phrase “May the Force be with you” during the final holes of the Amundi Evian Championship in France. Furue surged through the last four holes with a five-under finish to secure a one-stroke victory over Stephanie Kyriacou and claim her first major title. Furue initially gained recognition by winning the JLPGA’s 2019 Fujitsu Ladies Open as an amateur, subsequently turning pro and earning multiple victories on her homeland’s tour before qualifying for the LPGA in 2022.
Despite a solid start to the Evian Championship with 46 bogey-free holes, Furue struggled to maintain the lead on Sunday and was trailing by three strokes with only five holes left to play. However, a remarkable comeback saw her sinking crucial putts, including a 33-footer for eagle on the 14th hole and a 39-footer for birdie on the 15th hole. This streak of birdies propelled Furue into contention for the title, with a birdie on the 16th hole putting her in a tie for second place and only one stroke behind the leader, Kyriacou.
Kyriacou, who had played a strong round with no bogeys until late in the game, faltered on the 17th hole with a costly bogey. Ultimately, Furue and Kyriacou found themselves tied heading into the final hole, where Kyriacou’s errant drive put her at a disadvantage. Furue capitalized on the opportunity, hitting a precision 6-iron from 180 yards to set up an eagle putt to secure her victory. Despite falling short of the title, Kyriacou expressed satisfaction with her performance, finishing in second place.
In addition to Furue’s triumph at the Evian Championship, the tournament also saw standout performances from Lauren Coughlin, who briefly held the lead before finishing in fourth place, and Nelly Korda, who closed with an eagle to secure a T-26 finish. The event marked an important milestone for Furue, who became the third female major champion and part of a historic year in which Japanese players earned multiple major championships.
Following her victory, Furue plans to take an extended break before returning to competitive golf at the Women’s Scottish on August 15. She intends to celebrate her historic accomplishment in her home country of Japan and bask in the glory of her major title win. With her newfound success and recognition in the world of golf, Furue looks forward to continuing her journey as a professional athlete and building upon her legacy in the sport.
